PATIENTS in Princes Risborough are missing out on seeing their doctor because of excessive Government interference, it has been claimed.

Aylesbury and Princes Risborough MP David Lidington said that national targets were unwittingly causing problems for many of his constituents, with surgeries restricting the times when patients can make appointments to see their doctor.

He said: "I hear more and more from constituents in Aylesbury and Princes Risborough who are finding it very difficult to get an appointment with a GP."

Mr Lidington was commenting on the Healthcare Commission's State of Healthcare report released last month, which showed that more than one in ten people have trouble seeing their doctor.

He said: "It shows that Government targets have caused GP practices to limit what they offer patients. Many practices now refuse to book appointments more than two days in advance. It can be difficult to arrange time off work at such short notice. We must give GPs more flexibility."

New guidelines issued by the Government require doctors to meet a 48-hour working target, meaning patients are often left in a long queue to see their GP.

Gary Hall, Princes Risborough town mayor, agreed waiting lists were on the up.

He said: "It's certainly a problem here. Personally I think there was nothing wrong with the old system. Some target setting is important, but when it gets in the way of patient care that is when we should step back and reassess the situation."

Cross Keys Surgery in High Street, Princes Risborough, declined to comment.

A spokesman for the Vale of Aylesbury Primary Care Trust said that despite some patients experiencing difficulties, waiting times in general were on the decrease and it was now easier to get an emergency appointment.