HEALTHWATCH Lancashire chairman Mike Wedgeworth is calling for government action to boost family doctor numbers across the county.

He said new evidence showed clear evidence of a North-South divide.

This includes discussions with patients at practices in Accrington, Brierfield and Nelson as part of a programme of Healthwatch visits to GP surgeries across the county since June.

Statistics from NHS Digital show Lancashire GPs have 220 more patients than the national average and 340 more than practices in the South of England.

Mr Wedgeworth, a canon at Blackburn Cathedral, said: “This must be one of the reasons why Healthwatch Lancashire’s research is underlining the problems patients face in getting same day and even urgent appointments with their doctor.

“From seven visits to GPs carried out over the past three months across Lancashire, an average of 58 per cent of patients said they find it difficult to get same day appointments.

“The Government has promised to provide more GPs and incentives for them to work in areas where the need is greatest.

“We both need and deserve this promise to be fulfilled.”