Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Tomlinson Excerpts

Tuesday 5th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Michael Tomlinson (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (Con)]

6. What plans his Department has to increase capacity in general practice and primary care.

[David Warburton (Somerton and Frome) (Con)]

10. What plans his Department has to increase capacity in general practice and primary care.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Hunt]

I am happy to do so. I recognise the picture that my hon. Friend paints—not just in Henley but across the country—of a huge increase in GPs’ workload, which they are finding extremely challenging. What have we done? We have almost 1,300 more GPs working and training in the NHS compared with 2010. We have said that by the end of this Parliament we will seek to make available an additional 10,000 primary and community care staff, including 5,000 doctors working in general practice and 1,000 physician associates. We recognise the problem and are doing something about it.

[Michael Tomlinson]

Given proposals for significant increases in housing across Dorset, my constituents are rightly concerned about access to services, including to GPs. Will the Secretary of State reassure me and my constituents that housing numbers will be taken into account when assessing provision and increasing capacity of general practice in Poole and Dorset?

[Mr Hunt]

I am happy to give my hon. Friend that assurance. NHS England looks at areas of new housing very carefully when deciding where to invest additional resources for new GP practices. I recognise those concerns. I was in Dorset at the weekend. It is a lovely place that many people retire to, and of course older people tend to use the NHS more, so it is very important that that is reflected in our investment patterns.