NHS: GP Services

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts

Tuesday 21st May 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]

My Lords, first, I refer noble Lords to my health interests as set out in the register. The noble Earl is certainly right about one thing: that the health and social care system is under huge pressure. Hospitals are full to bursting, discharge is becoming ever more difficult, and social care and the voluntary sector are struggling to fulfil the demands being placed upon them. However, from the Statement made by the Secretary of State in the other place, it seems that the Government are seeking to blame everyone but themselves.

For instance, we have heard a lot about the GP contract, but can the noble Earl say why it has taken nine years for that contract to impact on A&E services? These are the very same GPs to whom, only a year ago, the noble Earl was saying we should hand over £80 billion for them to commission services without expertise, experience or inclination. Does he agree that the real causes of the crisis are the government-induced collapse of adult social care, the reduction in nurses, the closure of walk-in centres and ministerial pressure to introduce the NHS 111 service way too soon? Does he accept that all that has happened on the watch of the noble Earl and his ministerial colleagues?