Mental health epidemic is fueled by long wait times for GP and hospital appointments, figures show

A mental health epidemic is being fueled by long waiting times for GP and hospital appointments, official figures show.

A survey of 12,000 Britons found that a quarter reported poor mental health as a result of delays.

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said the government’s ‘failure to tackle the painful wait for treatment on the NHS is causing a mental health epidemic’.

“Millions of people are struggling to see their GP or waiting months for hospital treatment as ministers have destroyed local health services,” he added.

A further 18 per cent of respondents to the Office for National Statistics said the robberies had affected their physical health.

Last month, NHS England also revealed that there were 7.61 million treatments waiting to be carried out in November 2023, covering 6.39 million patients.

A quarter of Britons in a survey of 12,000 people reported mental health problems due to delays at GPs and hospitals

NHS England also revealed that there were 7.61 million treatments waiting to be carried out in November 2023

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the government’s ‘inability to tackle the painful wait for treatment on the NHS was causing a ‘mental health epidemic’.

A declining number of GPs combined with a growing and aging population means patients are rushing for appointments, with many weeks to wait.

Sir Ed added: ‘People are being left worried sick because they and their loved ones simply cannot access the healthcare they so desperately need.’

But Conservative mental health minister Maria Caulfield accused the Lib Dems of ‘sneaking in from the sidelines’ without coming up with a better plan.

She said the Pharmacy First scheme unveiled this week would “help free up 10 million doctor appointments” and the Every Mind Matters campaign had “helped 1.2 million people access NHS talking therapies”.