Over recent months, I have met with many GPs and their Practice Managers and a key topic of conversation is the problem they currently face in recruiting GPs.
After meeting with some local practices last Friday, I was able to raise this issue with Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Health, directly in the House of Commons today.
"For the first time ever in Devon and Plymouth, GP practices are struggling to recruit new doctors and new partners in particular and are spending a fortune on locums as a result. The Government have a plan to fix the situation by 2020, but what more can be done in the meantime to ensure that my constituents can access primary care services?"
Mr Hunt's response was as follows:
"There are two things. First, we have succeeded in increasing the number of medical school graduates who go into general practice—a record 3,157 this year. Secondly—I know this from my conversations with GPs in my hon. Friend’s constituency —we are doing what we can to reinvigorate the partnership model. Since meeting those GPs, I have agreed with the Royal College of General Practitioners and the BMA that we will carry out a formal review of how the partnership model needs to evolve in the modern NHS."
I welcome the review into the partnership model and will keep abreast of developments, ensuring the pressure is kept up to find a solution to the situation we currently face in Devon.