GP waiting list delays in Swindon are on the rise, NHS survey results suggest.

More than a third of Swindon patients who responded to the annual GP survey said they had to wait a week or more to see a doctor or nurse the last time they booked an appointment. Five years ago, just one in five people had to wait that long.

Less than a third of patients, 31 per cent, said they had managed to see a doctor on the same day as making their appointment.

Waits were longest at the Victoria Cross Surgery, Old Town, where 51 per cent of patients had to wait a week or longer to see a GP or nurse. At Eldene Health Centre, only one per cent of patients faced a week’s delay and 40 per cent were seen on the same day.

Swindon NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, which commissions GP services in the town, admitted some people had faced challenges in getting same-day appointments.

A spokeswoman said: “Within Swindon the population has been expanding and this coupled with a reduction in GP numbers between 2014 and 2016, has meant a challenge for some practices in offering quick access to GP appointments.

“Swindon CCG has been working closely with practices in a number of different ways. The CCG has commissioned additional extended primary care appointments to complement regular appointments slots available through general practices.

"Separate funding has been set aside to encourage practices to work together in groups so they can help each other should an individual practice have particular workforce gaps. Furthermore, we are working with partners to encourage GPs to train and work in Swindon."

“Overall it should also be recognised that the vast majority of general practice in Swindon are rated good, by the Care Quality Commission. We will continue to work closely with general practices to improve access to appointments.”

Campaigners warned GPs were working at capacity. Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Patients are still waiting too long for a GP appointment, and too many are not getting an appointment when they want one.

“As well as being frustrating for patients, and GPs, this is concerning as it means patients might not be getting the treatment they need in the early stages of their condition – and their conditions will potentially become more serious.

“The plain truth is that existing GPs and our teams are working to absolute capacity and we just don’t have enough GPs to offer enough appointments.

“Health Secretary Matt Hancock has identified workforce and prevention as two of his top priorities. If he is serious about tackling the GP workforce crisis and keeping patients out of hospital where care is far costlier, it is essential that the Government invests properly in general practice."