Oral Answers to Questions

Neil Carmichael Excerpts

Tuesday 2nd June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Ben Gummer]

Yes.

[Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con)]

7. What steps he is taking to increase access to GPs’ surgeries.

[The Secretary of State for Health (Mr Jeremy Hunt)]

The Government have committed to make sure GPs can be accessed when needed seven days a week, ensuring that people are able to access primary medical care when they need to.

This is already being rolled out through the GP access fund, which will enable 18 million patients to benefit from improved access to their local GP, including extended hours, telephone or Skype consultations.

[Neil Carmichael]

Does the Secretary of State agree that the news he brings will be of great comfort to elderly people in particular, but in addition the signposting of people towards GPs rather than acute hospitals will be very important and a very useful addition to our policy?

[Mr Hunt]

My hon. Friend makes an important point. It is partly the availability of services seven days a week, which we need to provide because illnesses do not happen on only five days a week and we need to respond to changing consumer expectations; but it is also about the signposting. That is absolutely critical, so that people know where to go and do not overburden A&E departments, which should be there for real emergencies.