Summary: We’ll create 50 million more appointments in GP surgeries and have 6,000 more doctors and 6,000 extra pharmacist, physios and other primary care staff by 2024-25.
- Once you’re receiving care in the NHS, it is world-class and GPs and other NHS staff work incredibly hard to deliver high quality care. But for too many people it is still too hard to get seen at a GP surgery and often difficult to book an appointment.
- That’s why we’re creating 50 million extra appointments in GP surgeries every year – delivered by 6,000 more GPs and 6,000 more primary care staff by 2024-25 to ensure patients can be seen by the right person, when it’s most convenient for them.
- Only the Conservatives will get Brexit done so we can move on to the real issues that make a difference to voters’ lives – like being able to get a GP appointment.
Background
- An ageing population and a rise in complex care needs means we have seen a big increase in demand for GP appointments. We’ve also seen a change in the way people want to engage with their GP surgeries, with many wanting online or video appointments at times convenient to them. Currently it can take too long to get a GP appointment and it can be frustrating to book one.
Our solution
- We will deliver 50 million more appointments at GP surgeries by 2024-25, making it easier for patients to have check-ups and get vaccinations for their children, and allowing surgeries to offer more support for those with long-term conditions. To achieve this, we will:
- Train an extra 500 GPs every year from 2021-22. By 2024-25 we project there will be almost 3,000 additional doctors working and training in General Practice from this expansion.
- Improve recruitment and retention of GP staff. We will work with the NHS to help improve the retention of talented staff, and work on a number of initiatives to improve international recruitment. We expect these initiatives to deliver 3,000 more GPs who otherwise would not be working in the NHS.
- Recruit more pharmacists, physios and other GP staff. We will commit £300 million every year for an extra 6,000 non-GP workforce like nurses, physios and pharmacists.
- Ensure patients can benefit from digital booking and consultations offered by phone, Skype or online if they want them. In addition, changes will enable remote working for GPs, enabling them to work in more modern and flexible ways, which should increase access for patients.
- Support practices to reduce waiting times through modernising systems and adopting best practice. A range of support will be available to practices, as we will work with the NHS and the profession to improve waiting times and experience for patients as well as offering public health support.
- Make reforms to fix problems with doctors’ pensions, which causes many staff to turn down extra shifts for fear of high tax bills. We have listened to doctors’, senior nurses’ and hospital leaders’ concerns and will work with the BMA and others to make reforms.
Conservative record
- We are investing an additional £4.5 billion in primary and community health services as part of our £33.9 billion long-term plan for the NHS. This is the first time in the history of the NHS that real terms funding for primary and community health services will grow faster than the NHS budget overall.[1]
- We have agreed a new GP contract, which will reduce working pressures on GPs. The new contract will implement some of the biggest changes in over a decade and be essential to deliver the ambitions set out in our long-term plan for the NHS through strong general practice services.[2]
- We are already recruiting 20,000 support staff to work in general practice. We are recruiting 20,000 physios, therapists and other health experts to offer patient more access to specialist care in GP teams, enabling GPs to free up more time for patients.[3]
- There are a record number of GPs in training. 3,538 trainees have accepted, beating the annual target of 3,250 for the second year in succession.[4]
Q&A
Q: What about your pledge to deliver 5,000 GPs by 2020?
There have been a number of reasons why GPs have left the profession or reduced their working hours, but it is good news there are now a record number of GPs in training. Our new plans will be supported by a £100 million retention package to support and retain some of our most experienced and knowledgeable GPs. We are also recruiting a total of 26,000 new primary care staff to further support GPs.
Q. What about Labour’s pledge to provide GP appointments within 48 hours?
More targets are not the solution – the RCGP have warned against such ‘vote winning gimmicks’. Instead, we are focusing on the reasons why GPs may be leaving the profession and working to attract trainee doctors to work in general practice. The last Labour Government’s target prevented patients making appointments more than 48 hours in advance, and left patients dissatisfied with the system.[5]
Q: Are the 6,000 additional non-GP staff on top of the 20,000 already committed in?
Yes, they are on top of 20,000 in our long-term plan. These will be trained and recruited both domestically and internationally. The NHS Visa that we announced on 8 November will assist in recruiting these staff more easily.
[1] NHS England, NHS Long Term Plan, 7 January 2019, link.
[2] NHS England, GP Contract, accessed 4 November May 2019, link.
[3] The Guardian, 31 January 2019, link; The Guardian, 8 May 2019, link.
[5] An evaluation of Advanced Access in general practice, February 2007, link.
