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Calling on David Cameron to cut GP waiting times

14-08-08 GP_Petition_1I have launched a petition calling on David Cameron to guarantee patients an appointment with a GP within 48 hours across Oldham and Saddleworth.

David Cameron scrapped Labour’s guarantee of an appointment within 48 hours and now 60 per cent of patients say they can’t see their GP within two days.

Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems can’t be trusted to keep their promises and have been too weak to stand up to the Tories and backed them all the way.  As our shadow health secretary, Andy Burnham, said recently we are four years on from the government’s promises to put GPs at the heart of the NHS and the Royal College of GPs are now saying that the profession has “been brought to its knees”.

The government’s reorganisation which promised to empower GPs has proved an abject failure on its own terms. And GP morale is at its lowest ever level, many are retiring early from the profession in despair, and services are in crisis.

All the while, it is getting harder and harder to get a GP appointment which is why Labour will guarantee a GP appointment within 48 hours and on the same day for those who need it.

I spend a great deal of time meeting with local people, talking about their hopes and concerns. Something I hear more and more about is the NHS. that is why, along with supporters I have started collecting signatures for the petition in Oldham town centre from members of the public who want to support the campaign to cut GP waiting times.

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