Haringey is facing crisis over a serious lack GP appointments, a health watchdog has said, with the shortfall predicted to worsen.

A new report compiled by Healthwatch Haringey finds there are 116,000 fewer GP appointments available annually in the borough than recommended by the NHS.

Sharon Grant OBE, chairman of Healthwatch Haringey, said: “We were shocked to find the extent of the deficit. This is a serious situation, which clearly requires an urgent response.”

Ms Grant said there was serious concern over the long-term health implications of situation.

She said: “There are lots of things that respond to early diagnosis, in particular heart disease and cancer.

“You wonder whether in two years time there’ll be people with late stage cancer or other serious diseases that have developed because they can’t get intervention at an early stage.”

Tottenham Hale was found to be the worst area studied, with 18,000 fewer appointments available to people annually than is recommended by the NHS.

The ward is not only suffering “a serious access and capacity issue”, reads the report, but also suffers a “very high degree of dissatisfaction” among patients.

Of those responding to the survey, 50 per cent said they were “unhappy” or “very unhappy” with the service from their GP.

The report, GP Access in Tottenham Hale, also outlined inequalities between the east and west of the borough.

Eight per cent in the west of Haringey said they were unable to get an appointment at their most recent attempt to do so compared to 25 per cent in the east. 

Ms Grant said: "In the east of the borough we are facing a crisis of under provision which threatens patient safety. Set against national standards the number of appointments available to people in Tottenham Hale falls woefully short".

Young mothers were a particular concern. The report randomly surveyed 186 young mothers in the north and east of Haringey and found almost 20 per cent were not registered with a GP.

The report states that it does not wish to “criticise GPs or challenge their efficiency” and recognises “they are also victims of the capacity issues”.

Ms Grant said: “We’ve got some great GPs in Tottenham and they work very hard. They’re very aware of the situation and they’re doing their best to cope.”

The Independent is waiting for a response from NHS England and the Haringey Care Commissioning Group.