GP Appointments 2023-06-06
2023-06-06
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the progress made on increasing GP appointments.
What progress has been made in my Department to increase the number of available GP appointments?
We have recruited 26,000 extra clinicians a year earlier than planned. Additionally, there are 29,000 more extra clinicians in GP surgeries and nearly 2,000 more doctors since 2019. We will increase the training of GPs to up from about 2,600 to 4,000 a year through our primary care recovery plan.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the lack of GPs in his constituency despite initiatives to increase GP appointments.
Sittingbourne and Sheppey still has one of the highest patient to GP ratios. What help can my local ICB get so they can provide more GPs for my constituents?
We are investing £645 million in Pharmacy First service and £60,000 per practice for new IT systems. We have also increased GP training numbers and aim to build on that further.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify how help will be given directly to local ICBs or a timeline for more GPs in the constituency
Will Go Further
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the lack of GPs in her constituency despite promises made by the Conservative Party.
Can you clarify when Oldham will receive its share of the 6,000 additional GPs promised in the manifesto?
The number of direct patient-facing staff in general practice is 50% higher than in 2019, and we will grow the number of clinicians in general practice further.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify when Oldham would receive its share or how many GPs it would get yet
Will Go Further
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the extension of visas for international medical graduates.
Will the extension of visas be automatic for the 1,000 or so graduates coming in June and August?
The extension of visas will be automatic to ensure that these highly qualified GPs can work in the NHS with extra time for placement.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the net loss of GPs last year, attributing it to the removal of minimum practice income guarantee.
Will the Minister consider reintroducing a strategic small surgeries fund for rural communities?
The funding formula already takes account of rurality, and we have nearly 10% more appointments than before the pandemic. GPs are working incredibly hard with extra staff support.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address whether a strategic small surgeries fund would be reintroduced
Funding Formula Already Takes Account Of Rurality
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about how admin and support staff can better use their time.
How can we maximise the time doctors spend at the top of their licences?
We are learning from inspirational work in constituencies, focusing GPs' time on tasks only they can do. This includes investment in additional roles and improving communication between hospitals and GPs.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific measures or timeline for how this would be implemented
Learning From Inspirational Work
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of Brexit on NHS staff shortages.
Is Brexit a success story regarding the shortage of NHS staff?
International recruitment is up, with 38,000 more doctors and 54,000 more nurses since 2010. We are taking steps to draw on international talent for NHS staffing growth.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address whether Brexit is a success story regarding staff shortages
International Recruitment Is Up
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Concerns raised by constituents in Bristol, Oldham, and Sittingbourne about the inability to speak with a GP. GPs warn of potential workforce cuts or closures due to rising demand and costs.
People are fed up with not being able to speak with a GP when they need to. GPs are warning that rising demand and increased costs may lead to workforce cuts or even closures. They are fed up with the bamboozling of numbers—more of which we have heard this morning—whether on GPs, full-time trainees, locums and now appointments. Whatever the metric, how many more GPs or GP appointments do they think are necessary for people to access the care that they need?
We committed in our manifesto to increasing the number and availability of appointments by 50 million. We are well on our way to meeting that target, as we had 10% more appointments in the year to April than in the year before the pandemic. That is the result of the additional staffing that we are putting in: the extra 29,000 other clinicians and the nearly 2,000 more doctors in general practice. We have made that investment, but the reason why GPs are doing more appointments is not just that we have provided a fifth more funding since 2017 up to 2021; it is also that GP teams are working incredibly hard.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific number of additional GPs or GP appointments needed was not addressed directly.
Response accuracy