I know this is a particularly important issue in Adur and Worthing where we have a shortage of GPs.
Supporting General Practice is at the heart of the Government's commitment to a high quality, seven-day health service. That is why the Government has launched a multi-billion pound plan to deliver the NHS's own plan for its future, the Five Year Forward View.
Enabled by an additional £8 billion in real terms NHS funding over the next five years, this plan delivers the 2015 manifesto commitment of high quality care and dignity in old age while improving access to services for working people across seven days.
The NHS will earmark an extra £2.4 billion a year for GP services by 2020/21, a 14 per cent real terms increase. Overall investment in General Practice includes a £500 million Sustainability and Transformation package to help GP practices add to the workforce and tackle workload.
The Government will deliver 5,000 additional doctors working in General Practice by 2020, through new incentives for training, recruitment, retention and return to practice. In addition, it will deliver 3,000 practice-based mental health therapists, 1,500 co-funded practice clinical pharmacists, and nationally funded support for the wider primary care workforce.
The Government's £1 billion Estates and Technology Transformation Fund will deliver GP premises fit for the future as well as investment to support better technologies and the development of modern working practices.
This package will enable delivery of a seven-day NHS, providing evening and weekend appointments to all patients by 2020, through practical support for surgeries to work together as well as direct funding for improved access. A new voluntary GP contract will support integrated primary and community health services with 7 day and weekend access at its core.
