Rishi Sunak’s pledged to ensure that that the ‘scramble at 8am’ to get an appointment will be over is the new government promise on NHS
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said practices will be handed £240 million this year to introduce online booking tools and upgrade telephone systems, as ministers aim to end the “8am scramble” of patients ringing surgeries for a slot.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We are already making real progress with 10% more GP appointments happening every month compared to before the pandemic.
“I want to make sure people receive the right support when they contact their general practice and bring an end to the 8am scramble for appointments.
“To do this we are improving technology and reducing bureaucracy, increasing staffing and changing the way primary care services are provided, which are all helping to deliver on the Government’s promise to cut waiting lists.”
Sounds good right?
Well, as ever, Peter Stefanovic has looked into the facts and reality behind the soundbite and it is not a pretty picture, across the NHS
Also, Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “The reason people can’t get a GP appointment is the Conservatives have cut 2,000 GPs. Better hold music isn’t going to change that.
“Nothing in this announcement will train more doctors, allow patients to choose a face-to-face appointment, or bring back the family doctor so patients see the same GP each time.
“This shallow offer shows Rishi Sunak is totally out of touch with the issues patients face, and underlines why he can’t offer the change people are crying out for.
“The Government should adopt Labour’s plan to train 7,500 more doctors a year, paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status, and enable patients to easily book appointments to see the doctor they want, in the manner they choose.”
Video
Peter shared the video and wrote: “Terrific. So now we can get through quicker to be told we can’t see a doctor – Sunak’s latest cunning plan is to convince us that being told more quickly there’s no doctor available is a huge win for patients – who comes up with this absolute bollocks?!”
Reactions
1.
2.
3.
4.
