Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set a target date by which all GP-registered patients in England will be able to access a GP, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

We are encouraging improved access to general practitioner services through the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund.

Over seven million patients are already benefiting from the initial £50 million investment which is supporting 20 pilots covering over 1,100 practices.

A wide variety of approaches are being tested ranging from opening 8am-8pm on weekdays and weekends; better use of telecare and health apps; more innovative ways to access services by video call, email or telephone, to developing more integrated services with a single point of contact to co-ordinate patient services across health and social care.

Last September the Prime Minister announced a further £100 million investment. This will enable millions more patients to benefit from improved access. We will be announcing the successful wave two pilots shortly.