Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions his Department has had with relevant stakeholders on GP surgery opening hours (a) outside of core hours and (b) at weekends to increase accessibility for the public.

The new Enhanced Access arrangements in England, based on Primary Care Networks providing bookable appointments outside core hours between 6.30pm and 8pm on weekday evenings and 9am and 5pm on Saturdays, will begin in October 2022. NHS England and NHS Improvement held two virtual workshops on patient access in July and August 2021 including members of the public, representatives from national patient groups, carer organisations and voluntary and health organisations including general practitioner practices and clinical commissioning groups. NHS England and NHS Improvement have also engaged with the British Medical Association’s General Practitioner Committee on the new Enhanced Access arrangements. Enhanced Access is in addition to Out of Hours Services from 6.30pm to 8am on weekdays and all day at weekends and on bank holidays.