Around 10 million people gave up on getting a GP appointment in one month, data shows.
One in five adults reported needing to contact their GP but decided not to pursue it, the Office for National Statistics found.
A poll of 4,500 adults suggests 9.94 million went without primary care in February. More than half blamed long waiting times for an appointment.
More than a quarter said they were unable to contact a GP at the times required and more than a fifth thought they would be unable to get a suitable time.
The Lib Dems, who analysed the data, say the issue is creating a “ticking time bomb”.
One 31-year-old woman told the ONS: “Because of delays I’ve got into trouble with my employer. I’ve had to borrow money to pay for a private consultation.”
Lib Dem health spokeswoman Daisy Cooper MP said: “We’re hearing devastating stories of people waiting in pain for months.”
Despite the Tories vowing to recruit 5,000 more GPs in their 2015 manifesto, there are 2,000 fewer full-time, fully trained GPs today than in 2015.
And this week, Labour Party analysis of GP data showed patients are 50% more likely to have to wait more than a fortnight to see a GP since the Tories planned to end such waits.
The Government points to recruitment of extra staff such as physios, nurses and pharmacists at surgeries.
