The number of GP appointments where patients waited four weeks or more has hit 10 million so far this year, figures show.

More than 10 million GP appointments this year had a wait of four weeks or longer (Image: GETTY)

The research by the Liberal Democrats found 2024 is on course to notch up a record for doctor’s sessions with month-long delays.

NHS data shows there have been 10.3 million waits in the seven months to July. That is higher than the equivalent period last year when 8.6 million were logged.

This year is on track to top last year’s record of 17.6 million four-week waits for a GP consultation.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Everyone should be able to see a doctor when they need one, but the Conservative Party broke the NHS so badly that millions of people are waiting weeks for an appointment.

“Fixing the GP crisis is critical to saving our NHS. If people can get seen quicker, fewer will end up in hospital in the first place.

“That’s better for them, better for the NHS and better for taxpayers.”

Gloucestershire had the highest proportion of delayed appointments with 10.1% having waits of four weeks or more.

Derby, Derbyshire and Glossop, Dorset, and Chorley and South Ribble all had 9% or more.

The Liberal Democrats want to give everyone the legal right to see a GP within a week or 24 hours if in urgent need.

The party says it would deliver the measure by increasing the number of GPs by 8,000.

It comes as Sir Ed, whose party won 72 MPs at the election, expressed fears that the Labour Government is “talking about reform before investment” when it comes to the NHS.

The Lib Dems want an extra £1.1billion a year of capital investment to help fix hospitals and buy new equipment.

They also want £3.7billion a year in day-to-day spending to fund more GPs and dentist appointments.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The NHS is broken. These findings show how much general practice has been neglected.

“This Government will fix this by shifting the focus of healthcare out of the hospital and into the community.

“We have committed to hiring an extra 1,000 GPs into the NHS by the end of this year. And we have provided £311million towards GP contract funding in 24/25 – a lift of 7.4%. We will ensure GPs have the resources to offer the highest quality care.”