Same-day pledge for GP appointments in England

The government is promising to improve access to GPs, including same-day appointments for those that need them, as part of a new plan in England.

Health Secretary Thérèse Coffey will make the pledge as she unveils her NHS plan for this winter and next.

GPs will be able to take on extra staff, including senior nurses, while pharmacists will be asked to take on more work to free up appointments.

Ms Coffey is due to announce the plan, which will also cover hospital services, in the House of Commons today.

She is expected to say: "I will put a laser-like focus on the needs of patients, making their priorities my priorities and being a champion for them on issues that affect them most."

Alongside same-day appointments when needed, Ms Coffey will promise no-one will have to wait more than two weeks for a routine appointment - currently one in five appointments take longer.

The promises on waiting times are not official targets, but Ms Coffey said they should be seen as clear expectations of what patients should be entitled to.

But GP leaders said the announcement would have a "minimal impact".

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Source: BBC News, 22 September 2022