GP Services

Liz McInnes Excerpts

Thursday 5th February 2015 Commons Chamber

[John Howell]

If my hon. Friend will give me a chance, I will come to that very point, which is one that I discussed with GPs and patient groups.

There is also the expectation of what a GP can do. The number of visits per patient may be up, which is increasing demand, but the causes, according to GPs, are, first, the desire for an instant cure. People are not giving minor ailments time to heal themselves, but expect medicine on tap for everything. Thus going to a GP as soon as symptoms occur is part of the expectation. Secondly, people are motivated to see their GP by advertisements listing symptoms and encouraging people to go to a GP if they have them.

[Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton) (Lab)]

rose—

[Duncan Hames (Chippenham) (LD)]

rose—

[John Howell]

I give way to the hon. Member for Heywood and Middleton (Liz McInnes).

[Liz McInnes]

The hon. Gentleman talks about patient expectations, but in the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale CCG, which serves my constituency, 16% of patients report that they are unable even to speak to somebody to get an appointment. I do not think it is an unreasonable expectation that patients should be able to contact somebody who can get them an appointment with a GP.

[John Howell]

I will give way to the hon. Member for Chippenham (Duncan Hames) and then respond to both interventions.