Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

GP Recruitment

Tuesday 6 December 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • In September 2022, there were nearly 2300 more full-time equivalent doctors in general practice compared to 2019.
  • The government has launched a consultation on changing doctors' pension rules to address concerns raised.
  • The Welsh Government's performance in addressing GP shortages is seen as lacking transparency.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
NHS
Context

Progress on the commitment to recruit 6,000 additional GPs by 2024.

Question

What progress has been made on recruiting 6,000 additional GPs by 2024?

Answer from Steve Barclay

In September 2022 there were nearly 2,300 more full-time equivalent doctors in general practice than there were at the same time in 2019, and more than 9,000 GP trainees.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific target of recruiting 6,000 additional GPs by 2024 was not addressed directly.

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Q2 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
NHS Benefits & Welfare
Context

A constituent, a full-time GP in her 50s, faces retirement due to pension rules, impacting patient care. The government's consultation on changing these rules is seen as too little, too late.

Question

A constituent of mine, a full-time GP in her 50s, told me that the pension rules mean she has to retire, work part-time or emigrate, which is hardly likely to help her patients obtain appointments with her. The government's consultation on changing these rules will last until next spring, so there will be no change until next summer at the earliest. Is this not too little, too late?

Answer from Steve Barclay

It is worth reminding the House that there are 3% more doctors this year than last year. As I have said, we have 2,300 more full-time GPs, and we are recruiting more. However, the hon. Lady is absolutely right about doctors' pensions; that is a material issue, which is why we launched the consultation, and we are working with Treasury colleagues to address these concerns as quickly as possible.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The timeline for implementing changes was not directly addressed.

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Q3 Virginia Crosbie
NHS Wales
Context

GP numbers are falling in Wales, raising healthcare concerns. The questioner notes that healthcare is devolved to the Welsh Labour Government and that healthcare issues constitute a significant portion of their postbag.

Question

GP numbers are falling in Wales. Healthcare is devolved to the Welsh Labour Government, and although Ynys Môn is represented by five members of the Senedd in Cardiff, healthcare concerns constitute a staggering 25% of my postbag. Does the Secretary of State agree that families throughout Wales are not receiving the healthcare they need and deserve from the Welsh Labour Government?

Answer from Steve Barclay

I do agree with my hon. Friend, and I think it would help the House to assess the performance of the Welsh Government if there were more transparency. For instance, the Opposition motion on today's Order Paper refers to vacancies in England. I am sure it will surprise the House to learn that the Welsh Government stopped collecting statistics for workforce vacancies in 2011. I look forward to Opposition Members' encouraging their Welsh colleagues to be more transparent.

Not addressed: The question about healthcare adequacy was not directly answered; instead, the answerer highlighted a lack of transparency and data collection issues.

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Q4 Feryal Clark Lab Enfield North
NHS
Context

Cases of streptococcus A are on the rise, and there are reports of shortages of antibiotics. The questioner asks for advice regarding securing care for children exhibiting symptoms but unable to secure a GP appointment.

Question

Members on both sides of the House will have been shocked and appalled by the recent deaths of children from streptococcus A, and our thoughts are with all the families affected. Cases are on the rise, and as we head into winter it is vital for parents to be able to secure for their children the care that they so desperately need. The shortage of GPs means that too many are struggling to see a doctor, and now there are reports of shortages of antibiotics as well. What advice can the Secretary of State give parents whose children are exhibiting symptoms but who cannot obtain a GP appointment, and what assurances can he give on the supply and availability of antibiotics?

Answer from Steve Barclay

This is an important issue which I know is of concern to many families throughout the country, so I am pleased to be able to reassure the House about our response. While GPs are important in this regard, so are directors of public health, who are leading the response in respect of, for example, liaison with schools. We are seeing a peak in cases earlier than usual, which we believe is due to lower exposure during the pandemic, which in turn has led to lower immunity. There is no new strain, and that is one of the key points of reassurance, but the UK Health Security Agency has declared a national standard to improve the co-ordination of our response, including what is being done in schools.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific advice for parents was not given directly; instead, general information about the situation and measures taken were provided.

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