Asked by: Lucy Allan (Conservative - Telford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase the number of GPs in areas such as new towns where the population is rapidly expanding.
Answered by Steve Brine
It is for the local clinical commissioning groups and NHS England to commission local services including general practitioner (GP) services.
Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group has been working together with general practices, GP localities, Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Health Education England and local stakeholders with patient groups and voluntary organisations to identify new ways of working, which will provide a sustainable primary care workforce. Using the principles within the General Practice Forward View (GPFV) local initiatives have already commenced.
The GPFV published in April 2016 set out this Government’s commitment to 5,000 additional doctors in general practice by 2020. These GPs will be distributed across England in line with local need.
Asked by: Lucy Allan (Conservative - Telford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to reduce childhood obesity.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Our Childhood Obesity Strategy, which will be launched in the summer, will look at everything that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese. It will set out what more can be done by all.
Asked by: Lucy Allan (Conservative - Telford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans the Government has for future changes in doctors' remuneration.
Answered by Ben Gummer
It is the responsibility of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) to make recommendations to government on the remuneration of doctors and dentists working in the National Health Service. We are also taking forward contract reform for consultants and junior doctors. The General Practitioner (GP) contract for 2016/17 will see an investment of £220 million for 2016/17 – part of this will provide a pay uplift of 1% for GPs.Asked by: Lucy Allan (Conservative - Telford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that the NHS Trust Development Authority collaborates with the NHS Future Fit process in Shropshire to make a decision regarding future emergency care for that county; and if he will take steps to ensure that population growth and the level of health inequality are taken into account in the process of making that decision.
Answered by Ben Gummer
The Government is clear the reconfiguration of front line health services is a matter for the local NHS. Services should be tailored to meet the needs of the local population, taking into account projected population growth and seeking to reduce health inequalities. Proposals for substantial service change must meet the four tests of reconfiguration which are (i) support from general practitioner commissioners (ii) strengthened public and patient engagement (iii) clarity on the clinical evidence base and (iv) support for patient choice.
It is right that reconfiguration is led by the local NHS, working closely with the support of national bodies including NHS England, the NHS Trust Development Authority and Monitor.