Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions his Department has had with Integrated Care Boards on the ability of patients to access (a) GP appointments and (b) follow up care in North East Hampshire; and what steps his Department is taking to make this process quicker.

There have been no recent discussions. The Department supports NHS England to ensure that the efficiency of elective pathways in each National Health Service trust is regularly assessed. Where necessary, NHS England will engage with the relevant integrated care board or trust.

We are investing at least £1.5 billion to create an additional 50 million general practice appointments by 2024 by increasing and diversifying the workforce. We have allocated more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, in addition to the £2 billion Elective Recovery Fund and £700 million Targeted Investment Fund already made available in 2021/2022 to increase elective activity.