Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jeremy Hunt and Helen Goodman

Tuesday 20th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

I hope that I can reassure my hon. Friend about this because the reality is that we increased the number of GPs by 5% in the previous Parliament, and in this Parliament we are planning an increase of another 5,000, which will be the biggest increase in GPs in the history of the NHS, and will go along with considerable extra resources.

[Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)]

I will focus on the half of the question that the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Sir Edward Leigh) missed out. The other day I had a meeting with some constituents who told me that they were so pleased that we were leaving the European Union because it meant that the extra £350 million could be used to reopen the A&E department at Bishop Auckland. Has the Secretary of State found that £350 million yet?

[Mr Hunt]

The hon. Lady might have noticed that I personally did not talk very much about that £350 million. Whatever resources we have post-Brexit will have to be set in the overall economic context, but of course the great thing is that, post-Brexit, that will be a decision for this Parliament.

National Health Service Funding

Debate between Jeremy Hunt and Helen Goodman

Tuesday 22nd November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

I thank my hon. Friend, who himself personifies calm and dignity. Community hospitals are indeed extremely important. Their role may change, but they will none the less continue to be a vital part of provision in most of our constituencies.

[Helen Goodman]

Since the Secretary of State thinks community hospitals are so important, will he guarantee that the Richardson in Barnard Castle will stay open?

[Mr Hunt]

I think the hon. Lady will be happy to know that such decisions are made not by Health Secretaries of either party but locally.