More than 123,000 patients in Dorset waited over a month for a GP appointment in October, prompting calls for a new legal right to be seen within seven days.
Liberal Democrat analysis shows the figure represents a 213 per cent rise compared with July last year, when Labour took office, with waiting times increasing sharply across the county as demand continues to grow.
Vikki Slade, Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said the delays are leaving people struggling to access care and adding further pressure to already stretched accident and emergency departments.
The figures reflect concerns raised through a constituency wide health survey carried out by the MP, which received more than 1,700 responses and found that 41 per cent of people said it was difficult or very difficult to secure a GP appointment.
The survey also highlighted differences between areas, with residents in Bearwood and Merley reporting some of the longest waits, while one respondent in Canford Heath said they had not seen their GP for months because appointments were unavailable.
Digital exclusion was also raised as a barrier, particularly for older residents, with concerns that online only booking systems are preventing some patients from accessing care.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a GP rescue package, including a legal right to see a GP within seven days, or within 24 hours for urgent cases, alongside plans to recruit and retain more doctors and invest in local surgeries.
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