Health bosses in Dartford and Swanley have blamed “increasing pressures” and a decrease in GPs for increased patient waiting times in the area.

Data from the GP Patients’ Survey, which asks patients to review their GP services, revealed that 28 per cent of people in Dartford, Swanley and Gravesham wait longer than a week for GP appointments.

This figure has doubled in the last five years, with just 14 per cent of patients reporting long waiting times in 2013.

Other findings from the survey suggested 60 per cent of patients in the area are not happy with waiting times to see their local GP.

The Royal College of GPs said the findings of the survey were concerning, and could mean people are at risk of not getting the treatment they need.

Labour councillor Joshua Jones said the findings were “no great surprise” and blamed “less money in the system” which will “affect people on the frontline”.

He added several residents have told him it is “the norm” to wait two weeks for GP appointments.

“Personally, if I ring up for an appointment it is often about two to three weeks,” Cllr Jones said.

He said he was concerned increased waiting times for GP appointments would put more pressure on A&E, and called on the government as a whole to increase funding in health services.

A spokeswoman for the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group said population growth, an ageing workforce and recruitment issues have caused the number of GPs employed in the area to drop.

She added that, in 2016, 144 GPs worked in the area compared with just 125 employed today – not including GPs who cover additional clinics.

The spokeswoman continued: “The CCG is working with GPs and the GP Federation to ensure greater sustainability of primary care in the future and increase the number of appointments available to patients, which will reduce waiting times.”

The findings come as plans are discussed to consolidate some GP services in Dartford into a health and wellbeing hub, which has divided opinion in the area.

Cllr Jones said the Labour Party in Dartford was open to the idea of a health hub, as long as the quality of GP services did not decline as a result.

The CCG spokeswoman said: “The hub will allow GP surgeries to work more closely together and offer more appointments with GPs, nurses and other health and social care professionals, improve the availability of other NHS services closer to home, and help to join up health, social care and voluntary sector services to improve patients’ experience.”

However, she added the exact details of how the hub will work have “not yet been agreed” and stressed the number of GPs available in Dartford will not be reduced.