Oral Answers to Questions

Alex Baker Excerpts

Tuesday 25th November 2025 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Alex Baker (Aldershot) (Lab)]

1. What steps his Department is taking to improve patient access to GPs.

[Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury) (Lab)]

4. What steps his Department is taking to improve patient access to GPs.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)]

I am pleased to report that both access to general practice and patient satisfaction with general practice have improved since Labour came to office. Over 75% of patients find it easy to contact their practice —an improvement of 14 percentage points since the general election. Not only have we recruited an extra 2,500 GPs; crucially, more patients are receiving continuity of care, backed by an additional £1.1 billion. Lots done, lots to do, and certainly a long way to go, but general practice is on the road to recovery.

[Alex Baker]

I am proud to see this Government’s improvements to GP services making a real difference locally, with over 2,000 more GPs hired and new investment already reaching practices like Jenner House surgery in Farnborough. However, many of my older and more vulnerable constituents tell me they are still struggling to get through on GP phone lines, especially as more practices move online. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that phone lines remain accessible for those who rely on them, so that everyone benefits from our NHS health plan? [Interruption.]

[Wes Streeting]

Well, Mr Speaker, you couldn’t script this! We have a doctor in the House—my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket (Peter Prinsley)—whose phone was alive as this very issue was raised by my hon. Friend, such is the commitment of doctors in our NHS to be available to patients wherever and whenever they are needed.

This Labour Government were elected on a pledge to end the 8 am scramble, and that is exactly what we are doing. We know that not everyone wants to contact their practice online. That is why practices must offer patients the option to telephone or visit in person in addition to online access. I thank GPs up and down the country for the work they are doing and the progress we are making in improving online access, access generally and patient satisfaction—lots done, lots to do.