Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their letter sent to GPs and Clinical Commissioning Groups on 14 September about the importance of providing face to face appointments, what steps they are taking to ensure that such appointments are made available at GP surgeries.

Following NHS England and NHS Improvement’s letter to general practitioner practices and clinical commissioning groups of the 31 August 2020, it has been working with the seven NHS England and NHS Improvement regions to investigate and resolve reports of poor face to face provision, patient complaints and poor practice communications on accessing services.

NHS England and NHS Improvement regions are also reviewing local readiness for winter plans that include access to general practice services and provision of face to face appointments, so that any local risks are identified early and addressed.

NHS England and NHS Improvement continue national and regional campaigns to urge the public to come forward with any health concerns and to reassure them that the National Health Service is open.