Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that ratios of patients to GPs in general practices are maintained at safe levels.

Under the GP Contract each practice is required to provide primary medical services to meet the reasonable needs of their registered patients. As self-employed contractors to the National Health Service, it is for general practitioner (GP) practices to determine the appropriate workforce, including the number and range of health professionals necessary to respond to the needs of their patients. Ensuring the correct mix of skills available in general practice addresses workload pressures, as well as in delivering appropriate patient care.

There is no recommendation for the number of patients assigned to a GP, which can be affected by various factors, including rurality and patient demographics.