Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) assessment he has made of trends in the levels of GPs in England, (b) plans he has to increase that number and (b) targets he has for that number in each of the next three years.

In December 2021, there were 1,672 more full time equivalent doctors in general practice in England compared to December 2019. The Department is working with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Health Education England and the profession to increase the general practice workforce in England. This includes measures to increase recruitment, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession and encourage them to return to practice. We have committed to deliver 6,000 more doctors in general practice as soon as possible.