We don't want to push patients through like cans in a supermarket

The Healthcare Commission found 27 per cent of patients in the Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) area had to wait longer than two working days for an appointment.

Thirty-eight per cent had to wait one or two days, 29 per cent said they were seen on the same day and six per cent were seen without an appointment.

PCT bosses believe all patients can always access a GP within two days - but do not always choose to accept the offered appointments.

But Dr John Givans, of North Yorkshire Local Medical Committee, said the Government's priorities were all wrong.

"People criticise surgeries saying the telephones ring a long time before they're answered, but it's no good having more telephones without having more staff and you can't have more staff without more funds to pay for them.

"You can't have more doctors or nurses without having more rooms and the PCT gives no money whatsoever to improving surgeries.

"If you want a better health service you have to pay for that, and since we can't afford it we'll have to cope with what we've got.

"I don't think people can afford to pay more tax, so the Government should look again at its priorities and reassess what's important."

He added: "We could go back to the old system of about 50 years ago when GPs spent about two-and-a-half minutes with patients and they were pushed through like cans in a supermarket but you won't get the quality of care you get now so there's only so much you can achieve with the resources available.

"If you want to achieve more, you've got to make more money available."

Nationally, over five million patients have to wait longer than 48 hours to see a GP.

Of the 300 million visits to GPs each year, 25 million involve a wait of more than two days.

Kay Goodwin, the PCT's director of strategic partnerships and localities, said: "Access to a GP or Primary Healthcare Professional is an issue that the PCT and our colleagues in general practice take very seriously.

"Consistently Selby and York PCT has performed excellently in terms of access to a GP or Primary Healthcare Professional, and regular monitoring reported to our board recently showed 100 per cent compliance with government targets.

"Recent patient survey results issued by the Healthcare Commission highlighted that a number of patients were unable to see a GP with two working days.

"This could be for a number of reasons. For example, wanting to wait to see a doctor of their choice or at a time most convenient to them."

HOW long do York residents have to wait to see their GPs? JOHN NASSOORI took to the streets to find out.

Glenys Seamark, 72, of Holgate:

"There are times when I have had to wait for three days before I could see a GP. The waiting time should be shorter than two days - 24 hours seems appropriate."

Beryl Hall, 74, of Bishophill, York:

"My practice is very adept at providing a quick service, well within the 48- hour limit. This seems to be the exception to the rule though. I think that if targets are set, they should be met."

Peter Cloudsdale, 57, of Huntington:

"24 hours is usually the longest I have to wait before an appointment can be scheduled. The target seems reasonable, although some flexibility could perhaps be introduced to ensure the elderly are seen more quickly."

Sarah Davie, 74, of Burton Court, York:

"The service I receive is brilliant. Yesterday I rang up for an appointment at 5pm and a slot was made available at 11am this morning, although this doesn't seem to be a commonplace occurrence across the country."

Dorothy Simey, 65, of Dunnington:

"I have always been seen within 24 hours after ringing for an urgent appointment. To wait for 48 hours if you are very ill is simply not good enough. The Government target should be reduced."

Julie Bickerdike, 39, of Heworth:

"The 48-hour target needs to be down-sized and doesn't take into account under-manned receptions.

"It will often take a long time to get through to my practice."

Updated: 11:03 Thursday, September 08, 2005