Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gordon Henderson and Maria Caulfield

Tuesday 23rd November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) (Con)]

13. What recent steps he has taken to help ensure that everyone in Sittingbourne and Sheppey constituency has access to a GP.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Maria Caulfield)]

The Kent and Medway clinical commissioning group has informed us that all practices in the area have open lists and are accepting new patients. It has also informed us that practices in Sittingbourne and Sheppey are being prioritised for support to help them manage the high levels of demand they are currently facing.

[Gordon Henderson]

I think the Minister has been misled by my local CCG. I can tell her that all the GPs in my area are oversubscribed and people are finding it very difficult to get an appointment with their GP, even including a virtual appointment. Indeed, some patients struggle even to speak to a receptionist, because the phones are engaged for hours on end. I understand that the NHS is planning to give GPs an upgrade of their telephone systems, but such upgrades will be of no use whatever unless doctors have the resources needed to recruit and train additional receptionists to answer the phones. What assurances can my hon. Friend give me that GPs will get those resources?