Health and Social Care Update

Debate between Charlotte Nichols and Thérèse Coffey

Thursday 22nd September 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

It is a choice for GPs whether they work part time or full time. I am conscious that some of the different things we are doing, including on pension flexibilities, should help, as should diverting people so that they do not have to go to GP appointments but can use pharmacies and other approaches.

[Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) (Lab)]

This morning I met the Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust regarding its bid for a new hospital in Warrington, which is desperately overdue. Our bid is through to the final stages of the Government’s tendering process, but there is concern that timetables are increasingly slipping, putting the bid at risk and driving delays in treatment because the current facilities are not fit to meet the need we have locally, despite the best efforts of our NHS staff. Will the Secretary of State therefore please confirm that the Government still intend to honour the previous Government’s plans for new hospitals and that these decisions will be made without further delay?

[Dr Coffey]

We are still considering all the proposals—the different business cases—that are coming through, and we will respond in due course.