Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the NHS GP provision in the Knowsley constituency.

We know that patients are finding it harder than ever to see a general practitioner (GP) and we are committed to fixing the the crisis in GPs, to secure the long-term sustainability of the National Health Service.

We will fix the front door to the NHS, ensuring that patients receive the care they deserve by increasing the proportion of funding for GPs and primary care, and shifting the focus of the NHS out of hospitals and into the community.

We have committed to ending the 8:00am scramble for GP appointments by introducing a modern booking system. We will guarantee a face-to-face appointment for anyone that wants one, bring back the family doctor, and introduce Neighbourhood Health Centres to bring together vital health and care services, ensuring healthcare is closer to home.

Additionally, we have committed to recruiting over 1,000 newly qualified GPs through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, which will increase the number of GP appointments delivered, secure the future pipeline of GPs, and take pressure off those currently working in the system.