A and E (Major Incidents)
Debate between Jeremy Hunt and Justin Tomlinson(9 years, 10 months ago)
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Mr Hunt
If the hon. Lady regrets that, she might want to ask her Labour colleagues in Wales why they also axed the 48-hour target. We do need better access to GPs. That is why we are funding the training of 5,000 more GPs over the next five years. With targets, we must be careful of unintended consequences. When we had that target in place, a quarter of people who asked for an appointment in more than two days were told that that would not be possible, because we found that people played the target. That is why we do not want to go back to that system.
Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)
As set out in the College of Emergency Medicine’s 10-point plan to improve A and E, co-location of GP surgeries is key. Does my right hon. Friend agree?
Mr Hunt
I agree with pretty much all the College of Emergency Medicine’s 10-point plan. That has very much informed our approach to helping the NHS over this winter. Co-location of GP surgeries on hospital sites is very helpful, but we also need more proactive care for the most vulnerable older people before they feel the need to go to hospital. That will be at the heart of the changes that we want to see.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Jeremy Hunt and Justin Tomlinson(12 years, 1 month ago)
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Mr Hunt
The £12 billion increase in spending on the NHS under this Government, which the right hon. Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) thought was irresponsible, means that we will be able to do a lot more for patients, but there is also rising demand. If we do not have that pay restraint, we will not be able to meet the needs of an ageing population.
Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)
What specific consideration is being given to matching the annual growth funding uplift to actual changes in population? That is essential to my constituency, which has high population growth.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Jeremy Hunt and Justin Tomlinson(13 years, 12 months ago)
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Mr Hunt
With respect to the selling of school playing fields, both the last Conservative Government and the last Labour Government were at fault. We are doing something to put the situation right, which is why my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport and the Olympics announced a £10 million fund to put playing fields into trust. We have done something; the other side talked about it.
With respect to competitive sport in schools, it is our ambition and determination to increase the number of children who do competitive support from the woefully low levels that we inherited.
Justin Tomlinson (North Swindon) (Con)
Will the Minister encourage local authorities to explore shared services and facilities to help protect and enhance community libraries?