Oral Answers to Questions

Chi Onwurah Excerpts

Tuesday 4th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Dunne]

I believe that my hon. Friend is the only dentist in the House, and he still practises occasionally. I would be delighted to meet my hon. and experienced Friend to discuss the issues about dentistry that he raises.

[Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)]

13. What assessment he has made of the consistency and quality of GP services in (a) Newcastle and (b) England.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Steve Brine)]

In 2016, 85% of patients surveyed across England reported a good overall experience of their GP surgery. In the Newcastle Gateshead CCG, patient satisfaction is even higher than the national average at 88%.

[Chi Onwurah]

Newcastle has fantastic GPs, but many of my poorest and most vulnerable constituents suffer from GP unavailability and a constant change of providers due to the requirement to re-tender every couple of years to a market that, quite frankly, does not want them because they are too poor or too marginalised to make money from. Will the Minister meet me and my local CCG to find out how we can ensure that those people get the quality and consistency of GP services that they deserve?

[Steve Brine]

I am very happy to do that.