Access to Primary Care

Clive Jones (Wokingham) (LD), Katrina Murray (Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch) (Lab), Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab), and Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West) (Lab) asked the Minister for Care, Stephen Kinnock, about the steps the Department is taking to improve access to GP appointments and the adequacy of patient access to primary care services. In his response, the Minister acknowledged that primary care is "broken," with satisfaction with GP services falling from 80% in 2009 to just 35% last year, which he described as a "damning indictment of 14 years of Tory failure." He outlined the government's plans to rebuild general practice, including investing £82 million to recruit 1,000 new GPs, launching a "red tape challenge," and committing to improving continuity of care and ending the "8 am scramble" for appointments. The Minister also discussed the government's plans to boost the role of community pharmacies, enabling patients to be treated for certain conditions without the need to see a GP. Clive Jones followed up, highlighting the lack of primary care provision in the Arborfield Green community in his Wokingham constituency, where residents must travel to neighboring villages to see a GP. The Minister acknowledged the issue of under-doctored areas and said he would be happy to meet with the MP to discuss how this could be addressed. Katrina Murray raised the issue of constituents in Cumbernauld being removed from GP practice lists after making complaints, and the Minister said he would engage with the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to ensure patients are treated with respect and compassion. Catherine Atkinson discussed the difficulties residents in Mickleover, Derby, are facing in booking GP appointments, and the Minister agreed that GP capacity must be a priority, particularly with new homes being built in the area. Warinder Juss emphasized the importance of quick and easy access to primary care, and the Minister outlined plans to introduce a modern booking system and increase the use of the NHS app to view records and order prescriptions, which he said would take pressure off the booking system. Finally, Patrick Spencer (Central Suffolk and North Ipswich) (Con) and Dr Kieran Mullan (Bexhill and Battle) (Con) raised specific issues in their constituencies, and the Minister expressed a willingness to meet with them to discuss how to address the challenges they are facing.