Labour promise to bring back the family doctor by providing cash incentives to GPs

WES Streeting will this week promise to bring back the family doctor.

GP practices will get extra cash if they provide “continuity of care” and let patients see the same doctor, Labour’s health chief will say.

The pledge comes amid increasing alarm that patients are unable to get an in person GP appointment.

When Brits do manage to bag an appointment, most have to see a locum rather than their preferred doctor.

Speaking at the Labour conference this week, Mr Streeting will promise to fix the broken system.

Mr Streeting said: “Patients are finding it impossible to get a GP appointment in the manner they want one. 

“Seeing the same doctor for each appointment means better care for patients, but under the Tories this is becoming rarer and rarer.

“The Conservatives have closed hundreds of practices since the 2019 election and are breaking their manifesto promise to hire more GPs.

“Labour will put patients first and bring back the family doctor.”

A recent poll found that a worrying two in three patients either never or rarely speak to their preferred doctor.

Under Labour’s plans, GP practices who provide a single family doctor to patients who want one will be able to access national “incentives” – pots of cash.

Ms Streeting says this will improve care because a family doctor will be more familiar with your medical history and needs.