To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of concerns reported by constituents that in-person GP services have become increasingly difficult to access.

I am aware of the narrative, as indicated again in this question, that GP services are becoming increasingly difficult to access. Let me be clear – evidence shows that is not the case.

The most recent figures from two weeks ago shows that in that particular week there were 164,137 consultations. That is a rate of 82 per 1,000 patients. Almost 40% of these were face to face.

The pre-covid consultation rate was 86 per 1,000 patients and 50% face to face. So that shows the number of consultations, and the proportion of those which are face to face, are only very slightly reduced.

General Practice has changed the way it works in responding to the current pandemic and despite the demands and capacity limits that COVID has created, GPs have maintained all of the core elements of general practice services.

The GP practice telephone first triage system introduced at the start of the pandemic allows patients to continue to seek medical advice from their GP for both routine and urgent problems. The GP then uses their clinical judgement to decide if the patient can be safely managed over the telephone or whether a face to face appointment is required.

Technologies such as video conferencing and enabling patients to send photographs by text has helped to facilitate diagnosis and ensures that patients are only required to visit surgeries where is it absolutely essential.

GP practices are open and are providing face to face appointments for those patients who are assessed as requiring them. If the Member has concerns about any particular practice then of course I would urge him to write to my Department immediately. I am assured that the vast majority of our general practitioners are working diligently, albeit under ever increases stresses and pressures.