Landmark new figures published this morning show that, thanks to the Labour Government’s action, over 1,500 extra GPs have been recruited since 1st October, with 200 joining practices across the North East and Yorkshire.

Joe Morris MP has today welcomed the increased GP capacity that will help fix the front door of the NHS and increase appointments to bring back the family doctor. Bringing back the family doctor and ending the 8am scramble for appointments were key manifesto commitments in the General Election.

The news of 1,500 extra GPs recruited comes after the Labour government removed red tape which prevented surgeries from hiring doctors soon after coming into office.

The recruitment boost, part of the government’s Plan for Change, will help end the scandal of patients in Hexham constituency struggling to see a doctor. People will be more readily able to receive the timely care they deserve, helping to shift healthcare from hospitals to the community, easing pressure on local GPs and cutting waiting lists.

The Labour Government has also provided the biggest boost to GP funding in years – an extra £889 million on top of the existing budget for general practice along with new reforms to free up GPs from red tape and box-ticking targets so they can spend more time caring for patients.

Since Labour came into power, the Government has delivered over two million extra appointments, meeting its target seven months early, and the waiting list has fallen five months running, down by 193,000.

Joe Morris, Member of Parliament for Hexham constituency said: 

“The NHS truly is one of our crowning jewels as a country. It is what sets us apart from others around the world where healthcare is costly and out of reach for normal working people. But our NHS undoubtedly needs improvements.

“When I knock on doors across our constituency, residents tell me of their frustration at the 8am scramble to make sure they are seen same-day or of their struggles in securing a routine GP appointment for things as simple as a check-up.

“When this government was elected, we promised to bring back the family doctor and re-open the front door to the NHS. So I am thrilled to hear that we have recruited an additional 1,500 GPs in just 6 months to help deliver on the promises we made to the people of Hexham.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: 

“Rebuilding our broken NHS starts with fixing the front door. We inherited a ludicrous situation where patients couldn’t get a GP appointment, while GPs couldn’t get a job. By cutting red tape and investing more in our NHS, we have put an extra 1,503 GPs into general practice to deliver more appointments.

“The extra investment and reforms we have made will allow patients to book appointments more easily, to help bring back the family doctor and end the 8am scramble.

“It is only because of the necessary decisions we took to increase employer National Insurance that we are able to recruit more GPs and deliver better services for patients. The extra investment and reform this government is making, as part of its Plan for Change, will get the NHS back on its feet and make it fit for the future.”