Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of GP appointments in West Dorset constituency.

We know that patients are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP), we know that this applies to the constituents of West Dorset, and we are committed to fixing the crisis in GPs.

West Dorset sits within the NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board, where the number of appointments delivered in August 2024 was 396,000. In August 2023, 409,000 appointments were delivered. This is a decrease of 3.2%.

Our plan will require both investment and reform. Firstly, we will increase the proportion of funding for GPs, starting with a commitment to recruit over 1,000 newly qualified GPs through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme. This will increase the number of appointments delivered in GPs, secure the future pipeline of GPs, and take pressure off those currently working in the system.

Additionally, we will deliver a modern booking system to end the 8:00am scramble for GP appointments and will bring back the family doctor by incentivising GPs to see the same patient.