GPs Sittingbourne and Sheppey 2021-11-23
2021-11-23
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from a situation where local constituents are facing difficulties accessing GP services due to oversubscribed practices.
What recent steps has the Minister taken to help ensure that everyone in Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency has access to a GP? I think the Minister has been misled by my local CCG. All GPs in my area are oversubscribed, people find it very difficult to get an appointment, even including virtual appointments. Some patients struggle to speak to a receptionist due to busy phone lines.
We recognise the difficulty in telephone access. The Secretary of State has addressed this through the winter access fund with £250 million available for GPs to either recruit more telephone receptionists or build up resources, including a cloud-based telephone system that can help increase phone capacity.
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Assessment & feedback
The question specifically asked about recruiting and training additional receptionists but the answer was somewhat general in discussing available funding without specifying recruitment measures or timelines.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question follows from a situation where local constituents face difficulties accessing GP services due to oversubscribed practices.
I can tell the Minister that all GPs in my area are oversubscribed, people find it very difficult to get an appointment, even including virtual appointments. Some patients struggle to speak to a receptionist due to busy phone lines. The NHS plans to upgrade telephone systems but these upgrades will be of no use without additional resources for recruitment and training of receptionists.
The Secretary of State, through the winter access fund, has provided £250 million for GPs to use in either recruiting more telephone receptionists or building up resources. This includes a cloud-based telephone system that can help increase phone capacity.
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Assessment & feedback
The question specifically asked about assurances regarding recruitment and training of additional receptionists, but the answer focused on available funding without concrete commitments to hiring and training.
Response accuracy