More than 3 million patients are having to wait at least three weeks to see their GP, shocking data reveals.
NHS statistics show 13.5 million appointments were made in England last month.
But almost a month earlier, 3.2 million, or one in five, were reserved.
It marks an increase of almost 400,000 appointments in the space of a month, illustrating the terrible crisis that has seen disgruntled patients abandon NHS surgeries in favor of private services or visit overcrowded emergency units.
Separate data today from the Office for National Statistics also found that GP satisfaction in England last year fell to its lowest level ever recorded.
Campaigners have long warned that delays, fueled by a shortage of GPs, put patients at risk of being diagnosed late or missing a serious illness.
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Figures released today by NHS England show almost half took place on the same day (44.6 per cent), slightly more than the previous month.
Almost a third (30.7 percent) had to wait more than a week.
Data from England also found that two-thirds (65.4 per cent) of GP consultations were face-to-face.
Family physicians, who earn six-figure salaries, on average, have reported making up to 90 appointments per day, a situation comparable to a conveyor belt.
The BMA recommends that GPs make no more than 25 appointments per day to ensure safe care.
The latest NHS statistics show that in December there were just under 27,500 fully qualified GPs working across England.
This is just under 2,000 less than the figure recorded in the same month of 2016.
This despite the population growing by around 2 million during the same period.
Many GPs are retiring in their 50s, moving abroad or going private due to increasing demand, NHS red tape and aggressive media coverage.
This has led to an appointment crisis in general practice, with patients forced to endure the 8am fight. Others are forced to complete an online electronic consultation to get to their office.
GPs also say they feel overwhelmed due to the pressures of a growing and aging population and a lack of government funding.
Ministers have also quietly scrapped a promise to recruit 6,000 more GPs, which was a major part of Boris Johnson’s election-winning manifesto.
