New data from the NHS has revealed that over 26,000 people faced a wait of 28 days or more for a GP appointment in Sheffield last month.
These figures have highlighted the healthcare crisis in the city, following on from the Junior Doctor strikes last week.
This is a result of a reduced workforce and a growing number of patients.
Councillor Ruth Milsom, Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee, said: “13 years of a lack of government investment for healthcare has led us to this position.
“COVID shone a spotlight on the problem as GPs were stretched to exhaustion. They have since come out of the pandemic to find that the situation is still dire.”
In October 2022, 34,000 people waited 28 days or more for an appointment in Sheffield, the worst figures of all time since data records began in 2017.
Councillor Ruth Milsom, said: “There has to be a change at the top. Ever since the coalition government in 2010 our healthcare system has lacked the necessary funding and planning to cope.”
The data also showed that the average response time for an emergency ambulance in Sheffield is 1 hour and 18 minutes, a staggering hour longer than the target time.
Councillor Milsom has spoken to GPs in the city who have described the situation as demoralising, as they struggle to cope with the mental pressures of an endless work schedule.
Last week, the NHS unions reached an agreement with the government for a 5% increase in salary for 2023/24, which includes nurses and paramedics.
However, junior doctors have arranged another four day strike in April, as they look for a pay increase of 35% to combat the pay cuts caused by 15 years of inflation.
Councillor Ruth Milsom said: “A 5% increase for the healthcare workers is insulting. Where is the recognition for the work they did during COVID and ever since.”
Sheffield Labour councillors have said on a Twitter post that they will fight for government action to reduce the waiting times for healthcare in the city. Nationally, Labour are looking to double the number of medical school places to grow the NHS workforce.
From 2023/24, Sheffield will hold six workshops for local healthcare workers. Councillor Milsom hopes that this will provide a place for health workers to discuss informally any pressures and their work-life balance.