Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Patient Access to GPs

Tuesday 21 October 2025 · 2 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Olly Glover raised concerns about delayed GP service provision in his constituency due to rapid housing development.
  • Michelle Welsh highlighted poor access to GP appointments in her constituency, noting the closure of an online booking system.
  • The Minister promised to meet Michelle Welsh to discuss the issues raised in her constituency.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Olly Glover Lib Dem Didcot and Wantage
NHS
Context

The constituency of Didcot and Wantage has seen significant housing developments, with Great Western Park adding 3,000 homes and Valley Park expected to add another 4,000. However, the promised new GP surgery remains unfulfilled despite support from the integrated care board (ICB).

Question

Great Western Park has added 3,000 homes to Didcot, in my Oxfordshire constituency, and Valley Park, which is under construction, will add 4,000 more. However, the new GP surgery promised in 2008 remains a barren patch of land and existing facilities cannot cope. The integrated care board is supportive, but progress has stalled due to NHS England’s involvement. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that integrated care boards should have the authority to direct primary care funding, and will he meet me to help unblock the new GP surgery my constituents desperately need?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

Let me come back to the hon. Gentleman after I have found out what has gone wrong in this case. As he points out, ICBs are responsible for commissioning, planning, securing and monitoring GP services within their health system, through delegated responsibility from NHS England, and capital is allocated to ICBs on a basis that takes account of annual population growth. I can understand his frustration and that of his constituents, so let me find out what has gone wrong and come back to him.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for a meeting was not directly addressed.

How: Let Me Come Back To The Hon. Gentleman After I Have Found Out What Has Gone Wrong In This Case.

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Q2 Michelle Welsh Lab Sherwood Forest
NHS
Context

The MP references a Conservative Government's failure to deliver on promises of improved GP access in Sherwood Forest, highlighting issues such as the closure of an online system for booking appointments.

Question

After 14 years of a Conservative Government, poor access to GPs is something that we have come to know well in certain areas of my constituency of Sherwood Forest. In Hucknall, demand for GP appointments is overwhelming to the point that one practice has had to close its online system. Promises of a super-healthcare system were made by the previous Government but never delivered. Meanwhile, local Ashfield independent politicians have disgracefully used this as a political football. Does the Secretary of State agree with me that there has been far too much talk and not enough action, and that it is now time that both the integrated care board and Ashfield district council deliver on this?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

It is of no surprise to me that my hon. Friend raises yet another example of Conservative broken promises, and the hot air that comes from independents, who have all the luxury of being commentators but none of the responsibility of ever having to deliver anything. I would be happy to meet her to look into what has gone wrong here. This has gone on for far too many years, and I can well understand her frustrations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for agreement was not directly addressed; instead the answer focused on criticizing the previous government's actions.

How: It Is Of No Surprise To Me That My Hon. Friend Raises Yet Another Example Of Conservative Broken Promises

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