SHOCKING new figures from an official NHS survey have revealed that more than 30,000 people in Barnsley have had to wait more than a week to see a GP in the past year.
Across the area covered by Barnsley Clinical Commissioning Group, around one in seven people said they were forced to wait at least seven days when they phoned for an appointment.
The annual NHS England survey also revealed that local patients struggle to see the family doctor of their own choosing.
Across the local region, 41 per cent – or 46,169 people – who have a preferred GP had to see another doctor when they last went to their surgery.
The statistics have been highlighted by Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher, who said he was very concerned by the findings in the survey.
"These figures are a real concern and further proof that Nick Clegg and David Cameron can't be trusted with our NHS," he added.
** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated August 22. **
