The Conservative Party has promised that there will be seven day GP services by 2020 under a Conservative government.
The PM stated that the move will ‘take pressure off Accident and Emergency service,’ which in recent months have struggled with the numbers of so called ‘non-urgent’ patients.
Last year, a £50 million pilot scheme was launched where GPs were able to bid for funds in order to stay open from 8am-8pm seven days a week.
Between 2015 & 2016 GPs around the country will also be able to bid for funding. The government has revealed that the cost of the scheme will be £400 million.
During a speech at the annual Conservative conference in Birmingham, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt criticised the previous labour government for their “poor care” and accused them of “scaremongering about privatisation.”
“It’s not a Labour health service, or a Conservative health service,” Hunt added. “It’s a National Health Service.”
Labour hit back at the accusations, with shadow health secretary Andy Burnham saying
“David Cameron made an almost identical announcement this time last year but, in the 12 months since, he has made it harder, not easier, to get a GP appointment. “After the election, David Cameron scrapped Labour’s GP appointment guarantee and cut support for evening and weekend opening. His broken promises on the NHS have caught up with him.”
“The next Labour government will guarantee a GP appointment within 48 hours or a same-day consultation with a doctor or nurse for those who need it,” he added.
In addition to having extended opening hours, Cameron has also pledged to give every patient a named GP who take care of patients outside of hospital. Telephoned and Skype consultations will also be made available.
“People need to be able to see their GP at a time that suits them and their family,” Cameron said. “We will also support thousands more GP practices to stay open longer – giving millions of patients better access to their doctor. This is only possible because we have taken difficult decisions to reduce inefficient and ineffective spending elsewhere as part of our long-term economic plan. You cannot fund the NHS if you don’t have a healthy growing economy.”
