NHS Appointments 2023-04-25
2023-04-25
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Jamie Stone noted concerns about the accessibility of NHS appointments in his constituency.
What progress has been made on improving access to NHS appointments?
We are investing at least £1.5 billion to create an additional 50 million GP appointments by 2024. To improve access to hospital appointments we are giving patients choice about their care and offering alternative providers, with shorter waiting times, to long-waiters. We are also investing £2.3 billion in community diagnostic services, which will improve access to tests, checks and scans. One hundred community diagnostic centres are already open, and they have delivered more than 3.6 million additional tests.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP raised concerns about missed NHS appointments wasting resources and suggested text message reminders could improve patient attendance.
Would it not be helpful if everyone with an NHS appointment received a text reminder to ensure they attend their scheduled appointments?
Better communication with patients was one of the five principles at the heart of our elective recovery plan, which was published in February. We recommend that all providers use appointment reminders, often through text messages. In some cases, this has been shown to reduce “did not attends” by up to 80%. Providers have told us that they see better results when communication is two-way, for example, where patients can reply to cancel their own appointments. Alongside that, we also launched the My Planned Care website, so that patients can access information ahead of their planned appointment.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlighted his support for the reinstatement of IVF services and asked about future plans to ensure routine availability.
What are the government's plans to ensure that IVF services and appointments are routinely offered across the NHS, in line with NICE guidance?
I, too, have two daughters, so I recognise much of what my hon. Friend said—
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide a specific plan or commitment regarding IVF services.
Personal Anecdote
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP mentioned significant GP appointment waiting times in various areas and questioned the government's plan to address this.
Why will the Government not adopt Labour's plan to double the number of medical school places, paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status, so that patients have the doctors they need?
I recognise the pressures on the system, but Labour has spent the non-dom money 10 times over. We are taking real action on this issue: real-terms spending on general practice is up by more than a fifth since 2016; as I said, we are investing £1.5 billion to create an additional 50 million GP appointments; we have recruited more than 25,000 additional primary care staff; and there are 2,167 more doctors in general practice; and we have the highest number ever in training.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address Labour's specific proposal for medical school places or non-dom tax status.
Counter-Claim
Response accuracy