Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that GPs have the (a) staffing and (b) financial support they need to manage the long term effects of the covid-19 outbreak, particularly in the winter months.
Qualified general practitioners (GPs) who had temporarily, or permanently, left NHS service were asked to return to support the COVID-19 response as part of a “call to arms” for healthcare professionals across the National Health Service. GP practices continue to play a vital role in our response to COVID-19 and we remain committed to growing the workforce and expanding the number of appointments available to patients.
On 5 July, NHS England and NHS Improvement announced a new ‘Your COVID Recovery’ service as part of wider NHS plans to expand access to COVID-19 rehabilitation treatments for those who have survived the virus but still have problems with breathing, mental health problems or other complications. A major UK research study into the long-term health impacts of COVID-19 on hospitalised patients has also been launched. The PHOSP-COVID study has been awarded £8.4 million jointly by UK Research and Innovation and the National Institute for Health Research.