It was good to drop by Oxshott Medical Practice on Friday, meeting with Dr Richard Draper and Claire Broadhurst (the Practice Manager).
We talked through the pressures that both the practice and the wider primary care sector have experienced during the pandemic – particularly with the option of virtual appointments increasing demand from patients.
I was clear in my view that local GPs have done an amazing job supporting our communities over the past 18 months. It was concerning to hear that GP practice staff have seen an increase in abuse, which is completely unacceptable.
Finally, we spoke about the government’s efforts to increase the availability of GP appointments over the winter and ensure that the NHS is offering 50 million more appointments in total by 2024/25. My thanks to Dr Draper and Claire for hosting me for this important meeting.