With increased NHS waiting times reported, the British Medical Association (BMA) have said there is a record high of almost 7.21 million people waiting for treatment.

More than one in eight residents in the South West resorted to ‘DIY Doctor’ after failing to secure face-to-face GP appointment.

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat's MP for Bath, has highlighted South West residents struggles of securing a face-to-face appointment with their GPs.

'Of people in the South West who failed to get a face-to-face GP appointment in the past year, a staggering one in eight resorted to being a ‘DIY Doctor’, admitting to carrying out medical treatment on themselves or asking somebody else who is not a medical professional to do so.

'The new poll, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, found amongst those in the South West who said they have tried but could not get a face-to-face GP appointment in the last 12 months, three in ten (30%) purchased medication online or at a pharmacy without GP advice, over one in four (26%) went to A&E, whilst one in six (17%) gave up all together on securing an appointment.

'Nearly a quarter (23%) of people in the South West have tried and failed to get a face-face GP appointment in their local area over the past twelve months.

'In an effort to solve these issues, Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, and the Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to recruit 8,000 more doctors. This would be achieved by increasing training places for GPs, fixing pension rules to discourage so many doctors retiring early, and launching a recruitment drive to encourage those who have left the NHS to return.'

Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, commented: “The Prime Minister and the Health Secretary need to wake up and realise how very serious this situation is. Our GPs are working flat-out under incredible and escalating pressure. They want to see patients but have been completely abandoned by this Government.

“Sadly, due to the Conservative Government’s neglect of our Health Service, it is no wonder that people in our region are turning to self-prescribing medication because of delays in securing GP appointments.

“Conservative Government after Conservative Government have broken pledges to recruit more GPs. The public are rightly fed up with their empty promises to turn this situation around. The only way this changes is with a change of Government.”

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