Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Cunningham Excerpts

Tuesday 15th July 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Mr George Mudie. Not here.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

May I remind the Secretary of State that it takes seven years to train a doctor and most of the doctors he boasts about were trained under a Labour Government? What is he doing about the disparity between GPs surgeries and the service that they offer? Some months ago I made some visits in Coventry and I was amazed by the difference in the levels of service.

[Mr Jeremy Hunt]

It does take seven years to train a GP, but we also have to have an NHS that is able to pay for GPs when they are trained. That is why it was so important to take the difficult decision to reduce the amount of money that we spend on back-office and management costs. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that there is too much disparity in the services offered by different GPs. That is something that the chief inspector of general practice is thinking about, and he will publish his plans shortly.