A Reading MP is ‘thrilled’ by plans by the Labour government to ‘bring back family doctors’ at medical practices throughout the area.
The government is consulting with the British Medical Association on measures to free up time, including boosting GP funding and reducing ‘outdated targets’.
Labour hopes the reforms will allow doctors to spend more time treating patients, which the government claims will ‘bring back the family doctor and slash red tape’.
Negotiations are taking place for the new GP contract for 2025/26.
Olivia Bailey, the Labour MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire has welcomed the proposed reforms and expressed hope that they will end the 8am scramble for appointments.
Labour politicians have stated that one of their key manifesto commitments was to improve GP service provision and ‘get the NHS back on its feet’.
Mrs Bailey hopes the reforms will mean patients in Reading West and Mid Berkshire including those with complex needs, long-term conditions, or the elderly will experience greater continuity of care.
The government has claimed that the proposals are backed by the biggest boost to GP funding in years – providing an extra £889 million on top of the existing budget for general practice.
Labour politicians claim the measures would also reduce the number of outdated performance targets that GPs must meet, in a further step to reduce bureaucracy and ensure doctors can spend more time with their patients.
Mrs Bailey said: “I have heard time and time again from my constituents in Reading West and Mid Berkshire about their difficulties in making a GP appointment.
“I am thrilled to see proposals that promise to bring back the family doctor through slashing red tape and delivering significant additional funding for GPs.”
Wes Streeting, the secretary of state for health and social care added: “General practice is buckling under the burden of bureaucracy, with GPs filling out forms instead of treating patients. It is clear the system is broken, which is why we are slashing red tape, binning outdated performance targets, and instead freeing doctors up to do their jobs.
“We promised to bring back the family doctor, but we want to be judged by results – not promises. That’s why we will incentivise GPs to ensure more and more patients see the same doctor at each appointment.
“Through our Plan for Change, we are acting to fix the front door to the NHS and we have already started hiring an extra 1,000 GPs into the NHS.
“We are proposing substantial additional investment and greater flexibility to employ doctors so patients get better care. I call on GPs to work with us to get the NHS back on its feet and end their collective action.”
Mr Streeting is the Labour MP for the Ilford North constituency in Greater London.
