Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has obtained important new figures from the NHS showing an increase in the number of appointments with family doctors.
A long-time campaigner for more GP appointments, Theresa has raised this issue regularly win Parliament and with the North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) who oversee community health services in Barnet and four other boroughs. Following a meeting in January between the NCL ICB and MPs, at which Theresa emphasised the need for better access to the appointments, its Chief Executive, Phill Wells has disclosed that:
- "In North Central London General Practice activity levels are at least 15% higher than pre-pandemic and in some practices activity has increased by as much as 30%.
- Our capacity continues to increase and we now average 680,000 appointments per month. This is an increase of 50,000 per month when compared to the same period in 2022/23 or 600,000 more appointments annually.
- Face to face appointments make up approximately 62% of all practice appointments and have sat at this level for much of this year.
- General Practice services run locally 7 days a week. The ‘core’ practice appointments outlined above are supplemented by ‘extended access’ appointments in the evenings, on weekends and on Bank Holidays. These are booked via the patient’s own practice or referred from NHS 111. For Barnet, in December 2023, these services offered a further 10,000 appointments."
In response, Theresa said “I welcome this significant increase in GP practice activity. Over the years, many constituents have spoken to me about difficulties and delays with GP appointments. Knowing that there are many more appointments available than was previously the case is reassuring.”
“I have been keeping up the pressure on the Government and the NHS to increase the number of GP appointments for my constituents. The Government has met its pledge to deliver 50 million more appointments in GP surgeries. We need to make sure that this uplift is felt in Barnet.”
“It is also very good news that pharmacists are now being given additional responsibilities via the Pharmacy First programme which enables them to prescribe certain medicines. This should free up time for GPs to spend with patients which more complex conditions.”
“But I know there is more to be done, including ensuring that patients get appropriate access to face-to-face appointments."
In his letter to Theresa, Phill Wells outlined some of the work being done by the Government and the NHS to support GP practices to expand and improve their services including:
- upgrading of telephone systems,
- embedding of new technology,
- support and training for reception and management teams,
- digital inclusion and improving patient communications,
- support to self-manage through the App, self-referral and other routes,
- default access for patients to their care record.
Theresa is seeking a further breakdown of the figures provided by NCL ICB to get a clearer picture of the situation in Barnet.
Digital Imprint: Promoted by Theresa Villiers MP of 163 High Street, Barnet, EN5 5SU
