Asked by: Kate Dearden (Labour (Co-op) - Halifax)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of open GP practices in Halifax constituency (a) on the most recent date for which figures are available and (b) in 2010.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Data provided by NHS England Digital shows that in May 2014, the earliest year from which data is available, there were 14 open general practices (GPs) in the Halifax constituency, and as of May 2024 there are nine open GPs in the constituency. The data only includes main practices, and does not include branch practices.
GPs close for a variety of reasons, including mergers or retirement, so this does not necessarily indicate a reduction in the quality of care. When a GP does close, patients are informed of the closure and advised to register at another local practice of their choice, within their area.
Asked by: Kate Dearden (Labour (Co-op) - Halifax)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support local pharmacies.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. We are committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, including by cutting red tape. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.
We are currently consulting with Community Pharmacy England on the national funding and contractual framework arrangements for 2024/25.
Asked by: Kate Dearden (Labour (Co-op) - Halifax)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of open dentistry practices in Halifax constituency (a) on the most recent date for which figures are available and (b) in 2010.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The most recent data available is from February 2024. As of that date, there are 15 open dentistry practices in Halifax constituency. Of these practices, 13 carry out a mixture of National Health Service and private work, and two seeing only private patients. There is no data available for 2010.