Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS's press release New plan to make it easier for patients to see their GP, published on 8 May 2023, what progress her Department has made on the allocation of £240 million of funding for the purchase of technology in general practice.

This funding was announced as part of the Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care. For a practice on analogue telephony that implements Modern General Practice Access, it provides an average of £60,000 to support the move to digital telephony, enhanced digital tools, and transition support over the next two years. This will enable a more streamlined and integrated digital access pathway for patients, covering online consultation, messaging and appointment booking.

NHS England is aiding practices in transitioning from analogue to digital services, resulting in 83% of practices now using a digital telephony solution. Support provided by integrated care systems is helping practices buy and implement better digital tools now, and a new framework launching early next year will simplify the buying process and experience for practices and ensure continuous improvement of tools as their needs evolve.