PATIENTS are waiting three weeks to see a GP in some parts of Glasgow.

Lengthy waits are leading some desperate patients to the doors of A&E for non-emergency treatment, heaping pressure on already overstretched hospital services.

The worrying picture emerged during NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's annual review meeting yesterday, when one pensioner told the board he had waited 21 days for a GP appointment in the Springburn area.

Senior officials with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde admittted the board received "regular reports" about GP waiting times. The board also admitted that it would struggle to meet a four-hour A&E waiting times target in the forseeable future.

Jackie Fox, from Balornock, said patients from his area were resorting to casualty services because of delays to see their GP.

Keith Redpath, Interim Chief Officer at NHSGGC, said: "Access to GP services is something we receive regular reports on.

"I certainly recognise that if people can't access GP services, in some places it's easier to go to an alternative service.

"But it is less than appropriate for people to turn up at A&E."

Mr Redpath said the health board worked closed with GP services to monitor waiting times and resolve issues.

Figures show that as of March 2014, 89.6% of patients waited four hours or less for A&E treatment at Glasgow's hospitals, falling well short of the 95% target.

Andrew Robertson, Chairman of NHSGGC said said additional measures were being put in place to move closer to the target.

There was criticism from one member of the public that there was no ministerial representative at the board meeting, unlike the previous seven years.