Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to a Government announcement on GP care, said:

“No amount of spin can hide the fact that David Cameron has made it harder to get a GP appointment. There is nothing in this new contract to correct that.

“David Cameron cut Labour’s scheme of evening and weekend opening and the guarantee of seeing a doctor within 48 hours. This announcement will not put an end to patients phoning the surgery at 9am and finding it impossible to get an appointment – many of whom, not happy with a phone consultation, will still turn to A&E.

“People will fail to see how this package delivers the public commitment David Cameron gave last month to keep GP surgeries open from 8am to 8pm. It was another promise that he’s got no intention of keeping and shows why he’s not trusted on the NHS.”