NHS data shows that in the seven months to July of this year there have already been 10.3 million waits of four weeks or more for a GP appointment. That is significantly higher than the equivalent period last year when there were 8.6 million four-week waits. It means this year is on track to beat last year's record of 17.6 million four-week waits for a GP appointment.

The analysis also shows in some areas almost one in ten appointments have seen waits for a GP appointment of four weeks or more so far this year. In Gloucestershire 10.1% of appointments have seen a wait of four weeks or more so far this year, the highest proportion in the country. This was followed by Derby, Derbyshire and Glossop, Dorset, and Chorley and South Ribble, which all had 9% or more of patients waiting longer than four weeks for a GP appointment, nearly double the national average of 5%.

The data has prompted the Liberal Democrats to call for emergency funding for the NHS in the Budget.

The party wants to give everyone the legal right to a GP appointment within a week or 24 hours if in urgent need, which would be delivered by increasing the number of GPs by 8,000.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 'Liberal Democrats are campaigning for everyone to have the right to see a GP within seven days, or 24 hours if it's urgent, and we are urging the Government to boost GP numbers to make it happen.

'Fixing the GP crisis is critical to saving our NHS. If people can get seen quicker, fewer will end up in hospital in the first place. That's better for them, better for the NHS and better for taxpayers.'