Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the impact of above average waiting times for GP appointments on patient health outcomes.

We recognise the potential impact that above-average waiting times for general practice (GP) appointments will have on patient health. The GP contract requires practices provide patients with an appropriate response on the day they make contact, based on the urgency of their clinical needs. It also stipulates that patients requiring an appointment within two weeks must be accommodated, and those with urgent needs should be seen on the same day.

As highlighted in Lord Darzi’s review, timely access to care and the quality of treatment are fundamental to the social contract between the National Health Service and the public. The NHS is in crisis, and the Government is committed to addressing this crisis through reform and investment.