Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage today stood up for local people who are facing lengthy waits for appointments with their doctors during questions to the Secretary of State for Health.
Whilst the Government has expressed its commitment to boosting access to GPs by extending opening hours and making GP services available seven days a week by 2020, people living in the Gosport area are yet to feel tangible benefits of these improvements.
Caroline asked:
"In my Gosport constituency, waiting times for GP appointments are remaining lengthy and practices are struggling to recruit enough doctors. Will my Honourable Friend reassure me that the improvements he's making elsewhere in the country will take effect in Gosport and will he meet with me to discuss this?"
The Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt replied:
"I'm delighted to discuss that with my Honourable Friend and she is right to focus on the role of GPs because if we are going to transform the NHS by the end of the next parliament, we need to fundamentally improve the out-of-hospital care that we offer. GPs are at the heart of that, we've recruited 1000 more this parliament, we need many more going forward and definitely that would include her constituency."
Speaking outside the Chamber, Caroline said:
"Each week I get a number of letters and emails from local people who are frustrated by the time it takes to secure an appointment with their GP; equally, I receive a lot of correspondence from local GPs who are concerned about the difficulties of recruiting new GPs. It is quite clear that more needs to be done to tackle both of these problems here on the Gosport peninsula and I will look forward to discussing the issues in greater detail with the Secretary of State."