Barbara Keeley MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Older People, Care and Carers, commenting on NHS England’s announcement on general practice, said:

“Since David Cameron became Prime Minister, spending on general practice has been cut and GP numbers haven’t kept pace with demand. This isn’t just bad for patients who face longer waits, or for GPs who find themselves increasingly overstretched, but also for the NHS as access to a GP is crucial to helping people stay healthy and out of hospital.

“The test of this plan will be whether it can undo the damage done by the last six years of Tory policies.

“It is welcome that NHS England is earmarking extra resources for general practice, but it is disingenuous to claim this is new money when it is coming out of the existing NHS budget.

“Patients need real action and GPs need real support if we are to stop the crisis in general practice getting even worse.”

ENDS