NHS: General Medical Practitioners

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts

Monday 20th November 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

The right reverend Prelate the Bishop of St Albans asks an important question but the recovery plan introduced new measures to support international medical students, who make up more than half of all doctors in GP training, so if we were to stop those students coming over we would be in real trouble ourselves. On his wider point he is absolutely right, but it is not just GPs and doctors; it is also healthcare professionals in social services and elsewhere.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of the GMC. On the increase in training places in medical schools, which is of course very welcome, does the Minister agree that this will not come off unless we increase the number of people training the GPs? Will he arrange for discussions between himself, the GMC, medical schools and NHS England to ensure that we get enough people to come in as trainers to enable even the modest workforce projections that are in the plan for medical schools to be put into action?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

I absolutely agree with the noble Lord. If he is inviting me to do something with that, I will certainly take it back to the department based on his question.