Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Kinnock and Mark Ferguson

Tuesday 17th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Kinnock]

I do not think any decisions are being made for political reasons—our medical and health staff are very much focused on doing the right thing from a clinical point of view. The hon. Lady raises an important point about continuity of care, with people constantly having to be re-referred into the system. Part of the reason for that is the utter incompetence with which the previous Government managed our primary care system, which has resulted in people being passed from pillar to post, the additional roles reimbursement scheme not actually being about having GPs on the frontline, but about having other staff, which creates more friction in the system, and poorer continuity of care. This Government are going to bring back the family doctor—that is the way to get our general practice back on its feet.

[Mark Ferguson (Gateshead Central and Whickham) (Lab)]

7. What steps his Department is taking to tackle wasteful spending in the NHS.