Oral Answers to Questions

Deidre Brock Excerpts

Tuesday 1st November 2022 Commons Chamber

[The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Helen Whately)]

I have shared my hon. Friend’s concern about this issue in the past, and I know he has taken a long-term interest in it. We must ensure that people living with dementia are prescribed anti-psychotic medication only when it is clinically appropriate., and NHS England is actively monitoring the position. I have already asked for the latest data, and I will be keeping a close eye on it.

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

T5. The Secretary of State says that he is boosting GP trainee numbers, but according to the Royal College of General Practitioners, 49% of the more than 40% of GP trainees who are international graduates have reported visa processing problems and 17% are considering leaving the UK altogether, taking their desperately needed skills elsewhere. Why are the UK Government hamstringing the NHS with red tape, and what is the Secretary of State doing to sort this out with ministerial colleagues?

[Steve Barclay]

Across the clinical workforce—whether we are talking about dentistry, nursing, social care or doctors—we are seeking to boost recruitment, including international recruitment, and to remove red tape. Within the GP population, however, we are looking at retention, recruitment and boosting the number of trainees.