Therese Coffey dropped out for telling patients to just switch doctors if they couldn’t get an appointment quickly

HEALTH Secretary Therese Coffey was criticized yesterday for telling patients to simply switch doctors if they couldn’t get an appointment quickly.

She admitted her two week target for Britons who wanted to see a doctor was unenforceable.

Health Secretary Therese Coffey was criticized yesterday for telling patients to simply switch doctors if they couldn't get an appointment quickly

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Health Secretary Therese Coffey was criticized yesterday for telling patients to simply switch doctors if they couldn’t get an appointment quicklyCredit: PA

Mrs Coffey had threatened to appoint and disgrace GPs who do not meet the “expectation”.

But she was accused of being “all words” when it was revealed that there will be no sanctions if they don’t.

She said: “One of the things about publishing data by the practice is that it can give some patients the option to choose to use a different GP.”

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “What is the consequence if GPs do not meet her expectations?

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“Her message is: ‘Get on your bike and find a new doctor.’ Should patients be grateful for this?”

Mrs. Coffey said she met the four-hour target for… A&E waiting times.

It hasn’t been touched in over seven years and health chiefs were eager to dump it.

But Ms. Coffey reiterated her commitment to it, saying, “I believe it matters.”