GP Appointment Availability — [Mr Laurence Robertson in the Chair]

A constituent could not get a GP appointment and was told to go to A&E, where they waited two hours for triage and another six to seven hours before being sent home due to the cold. This issue puts immense pressure on the entire health system.

He shared concerns about a postcode lottery in the NHS GP service, noting significant differences in face-to-face appointments across different areas. Raises concerns about GP appointment availability during the pandemic, noting increased pressure due to unaddressed health issues. Mentions 5.5 million people are on hospital waiting lists and about 7 million fewer GP referrals during the pandemic. Asked Martyn Day about the impact on NHS staff if they were to leave due to compulsory vaccination policies, mentioning a potential loss of up to 100,000 people from GP surgeries. He has concerns about compulsory vaccination in the NHS sector and asks for an impact assessment before any such measures are implemented.

The MP agrees that teleconsultations may lead to patients presenting at A&E with more advanced conditions, highlighting the importance of in-person consultations for accurate diagnosis and early detection of diseases like cancer and heart disease.

He expressed concern about the perception that it is difficult to get through to GP practices on the phone and access face-to-face appointments in his constituency. Despite national statistics showing improvements, he received letters from constituents reporting issues such as long wait times for calls, low availability of appointments, and difficulties with flu vaccinations. He cited one constituent who spent 45 minutes on the phone trying 159 times to get through before being offered a telephone consultation for a neck lump.

The MP acknowledges the work of GPs in his constituency during the pandemic but highlights certain surgeries struggling to respond to constituents, leading to difficulties in accessing even phone consultations.

She thanked Margaret Greenwood for securing the debate, expressing agreement that there are benefits to a hybrid appointment approach but also concern over verbal abuse faced by GPs and reception staff. She emphasized the need to address this issue.

She highlighted the issue of difficulty in accessing GPs, noting that it affects more areas than just her own and leads to an increase in A&E visits due to frustration. She expressed serious concerns about the Health and Care Bill's provision for patient assessment after discharge from hospital instead of before. There is a shortage of GPs, with the Government committing to an additional 6,000 by 2024 or 025, but this does not address current pressures on GPs and risks driving more overwhelmed practitioners away. Asks if the hon. Gentleman shares her concern that moving to 42 integrated care systems will increase rationing and embed a postcode lottery, highlighting constituents' views on this issue. Margaret Greenwood intervened, expressing concern about the outcomes of patients who have been consulted remotely. She mentioned a constituent's harrowing experience where remote consultation led to life-changing surgery for what was initially thought to be a minor ailment. She raises worries from GPs about a lack of sufficient fully qualified doctors and the use of physician associates with less training. She asks for confirmation on the government's commitment to adding 6,000 more GPs.

Paid tribute to GP and primary care staff for their work during the pandemic, condemned incidents of harassment against medical staff, criticised the UK Government's rhetoric regarding face-to-face consultations. Noted that GPs have overwhelmingly rejected DHSC England's plan for forced face-to-face appointments due to safety concerns and increased workload. Highlighted the success of GP training recruitment in Scotland compared to other parts of the UK.

There is only one GP for every 2,500 people in the Bedfordshire area, with a 12% reduction to 390 employed GPs. An urgent independent review of access to general practice is needed rather than a 'name and shame' league table.

The MP emphasizes the need for better co-ordination between hospitals, GPs, and councils to ensure effective care pathways for disabled patients leaving hospital. She advocates for more debate on this complex issue.

Mr Aldous highlighted the growing demand for GP services and the challenges faced by GPs in providing face-to-face appointments during the pandemic. He noted an increase in GP appointments from 478,160 to 482,993 between August 2019 and August 2021 in Norfolk and Waveney, with a rise in face-to-face consultations to 69%. However, he acknowledged the distress felt by patients unable to secure appointments. Mr Aldous also discussed capacity constraints and the need for better remote appointment management.

She questioned whether focusing solely on GPs was effective, suggesting a multidisciplinary clinical team approach might be better to handle various clinical functions. She also raised concerns about the discharge-to-assess approach and its potential impact on vulnerable patients. York Medical Group serves 44,000 patients with unprecedented demand in calls for clinicians. Staff are under immense pressure leading to burnout and reduced working hours due to the relentless nature of their duties. She questions whether funding will be allocated properly to community pharmacies and the voluntary sector for additional health support roles.

GPs are essential to the NHS and their roles extend beyond medical services. Despite this, they face workforce shortages and increased demand due to an ageing population and chronic underfunding. GP surgeries offered 2.2 million more appointments in August 2021 compared to August 2019, but digital solutions do not work for everyone. The Government must support GPs by delivering on their manifesto promise of adding 6,000 new GPs to the workforce and addressing staff burnout.

Simon Fell highlighted the difficulties faced by GPs in delivering services, including dealing with a backlog of patients due to the pandemic and increasing workload. He mentioned that GP appointments are becoming less accessible, leading to a potential crisis in recruitment and service delivery.