The MP asked how today’s proposals would address local challenges such as reduced GP numbers in his constituency, the impact of a lack of GPs and locums on access to care for residents, and whether there was any plan to tackle waiting times for urgent cancer referrals.

The MP questioned why the Government was announcing new plans without a robust assessment, citing specific examples from her constituency where patients are struggling to get appointments. She asked if there were any details on how the new funding would specifically help GP surgeries.

The MP asked about the practicality of implementing the new technology and whether there were any concerns that patients might not use it effectively.

The MP questioned the effectiveness of the plan given that many GP practices are struggling due to staff shortages, and asked for a commitment on recruiting more GPs as promised.

The MP questioned the timing and content of the announcement, highlighting under-delivery on GP recruitment promises. He criticised the Government's lack of clear dates for improvements in patient access and challenged claims about the effectiveness of direct referral policies. The shadow also emphasised Labour’s focus on mental health support, more care at home, and training additional healthcare workers.

The MP asked about the timing of investments in reducing GP appointment wait times and improving cloud telephony access for patients. He specifically sought clarification on how quickly these changes could be implemented.

The MP expressed dissatisfaction with the minister's announcement, citing specific issues in her constituency such as high A&E attendance rates and low GP availability. She asked when the promised extra GPs would be delivered and what actions are being taken to increase GP working hours.

The MP welcomed the announcement on enhancing pharmacy roles and asked if pharmacists would receive additional rewards for their increased responsibilities.

The MP thanked GPs for their hard work and raised concerns about the pressure they face, including overbearing workloads from NHS England, leading some to leave. He asked when a workforce plan would be delivered.

The MP praised the statement while questioning how pharmacy-first plans would be implemented in rural areas like his constituency. He also mentioned issues with empty NHS premises due to PFI projects.

As a pharmacist herself, the MP welcomed the announcement but raised concerns about funding and workforce investment. She inquired if pharmacists would be competitively paid for their prescribing skills.

Welcoming the announcement, the MP suggested investing in point-of-care diagnostic testing at pharmacies and GP surgeries.

Liberal Democrats and many others in this House have called for a pharmacy first approach for a long time, but there appear to be two major problems with today’s announcement. The first is that the Government’s own plan says that the money will be re-targeted; I would be grateful to know from the Secretary of State which other service will miss out. In my constituency two pharmacies have already closed, and across England 16% of pharmacies have said that they do not think they will survive another year. How does the Secretary of State expect people to access a pharmacy first if their pharmacies continue to close?

I welcome the statement. I notice the difference in opinion on the Opposition Benches between the people who know what they are talking about and the people who do not. Pharmacy First is a brilliant idea, and I thank the Secretary of State. I very much hope it will be welcomed by pharmacies in my patch. I want to reiterate some of the points that have been made. First, some of my pharmacies have been under a lot of financial pressure recently. Will the financial package be able to support them and make them feel valued, considering what extraordinarily good value for money they are? Related to that, will any financial support or grants be made available to pharmacies—especially the smaller ones in some of my rural areas and small towns—so that they can have a room to see patients and take advantage of this great Pharmacy First scheme?

I completely support the idea of pharmacists being able to do more. For instance, it makes more sense that someone with shingles can go to a pharmacist today to get antivirals prescribed. My fear is that what has been announced today does not fully understand the crisis in primary healthcare. According to the numbers given by the Government’s own Ministers, in September 2015 we had 29,364 fully qualified GPs in England, but last September we had 27,556. By the Government’s own numbers, that is 2,000 fewer. Community pharmacies have gone from 11,949 in 2015 to 11,026—a nearly 10% fall. Do we need to do more to enthuse people to work in our NHS across the whole of primary healthcare? Would it be a good idea to change the model for GPs, so that we have more salaried GPs?

I am pleased that the Government are looking at how they can best support GPs and improve access to primary care, but how will these plans protect and enhance the role of GPs who dispense in their own practices? How will my right hon. Friend deal with concerns about antibiotic resistance, and how will he solve the root cause of the problem, which is the fact that there are not enough GPs?

The steps proposed in the statement reflect what Labour has been calling for, and are well overdue. I am glad that at least some steps are being taken, but they fall well short of the scale of the challenge that we face. Pharmacists need to work in a strong primary care environment. We need to see more GPs, an increase in primary care services, and more tests, diagnoses and minor procedures carried out in the community, speeding up primary care and taking the pressure off secondary care. Three years ago, I met Ministers and officials in the Department to seek advice on and support for the rebuilding of the rundown Heston health centre in my constituency. What is the Government’s strategy on the rebuilding of rundown primary care facilities, not only to assist the recruitment and retention of GPs but to better facilitate the work taking place between GPs, pharmacies and other community healthcare services?

As the hon. Member for Coventry North West will know, it takes five years to obtain a master of pharmacy degree and to become fully qualified. Training continues as pharmacists continue in their work, so they are a valuable resource, and I welcome the statement. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will know, in France, for instance, where it costs €26.50 to see a GP, most people would choose to see a pharmacist first, but is he sure that by taking pressure off general practices, he will not overwhelm pharmacists such as mine in Lichfield and Burntwood?

The impact of today’s announcement will be miniscule compared with the scale of the challenge facing primary care right now. In York, our GPs are innovative and ambitious—far more ambitious than the Secretary of State—and want to bring real change to the way pathways operate. In light of that, will additional money be available for innovation in primary care, so that GPs can meet the challenge and lead the change that is needed?

I am pleased to inform the House that my mother has moved in with my wife and me, from the Secretary of State’s constituency. One of the joys of living with my mother is helping her with Tesco orders and Amazon deliveries and with surfing what she calls the interweb, and I am looking forward to helping her with the new NHS app. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me that enabling many more people to use the NHS app, including Mrs Bristow, and having many more services available on the NHS app is more convenient for patients and will free up GP time, so that GPs can do what they should be doing?

In my constituency, GP surgeries have closed, leading to increased pressure on Whipps Cross University Hospital. The hospital is struggling with 100% bed occupancy rates. When will the Secretary of State announce the workforce plan for primary care and funding for the new Whipps Cross University Hospital?

My constituency needs more primary care facilities due to new housing developments. Will the Secretary of State make it his personal mission to ensure that extra primary care facilities are built with certainty as new schools are, thus serving a huge service to the nation?

There is a shortage of GPs in my area due to the low GP to population ratio. Will the Secretary of State support our campaign for more doctors at Hull York Medical School and training facilities for pharmacists and dentists?

Primary care faces significant bureaucracy. Will the Secretary of State comment on further cuts to bureaucracy as suggested by the Health and Social Care Committee?

Primary care waiting lists have increased threefold since 2010. When will we get our fair share of the promised 6,000 GPs?

A local GP believes a national education campaign is needed to advise patients on when to access general practice versus other services. Will the Government take it up?

600 pharmacies have closed since 2015, impacting disadvantaged communities. Does he agree more funding is needed to prevent closures and fix the broken NHS?

The plan is littered with examples of technology use. Will the Secretary of State target tech help at practices that need it most, such as those in coastal constituencies?

We are short of GPs, pharmacists and dentists in Hull. Will the Secretary of State consider setting up a dental training school, pharmacy school and ophthalmology school at Hull York Medical School?

Welcoming the plans to improve primary care, particularly addressing poor practices in some GP surgeries and advocating for more transparency.

Acknowledging the primary care recovery plan and asking about discussions with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland regarding access to medical records via an NHS app.

Inquiring about how pharmacies in East Devon will be able to access funding and support for prescriptions under Pharmacy First.

Welcoming the recovery plan and urging efforts to find funding for the construction of Long Crendon’s innovative model primary care facility.