Simon Fell MP has welcomed the increase in doctors, nurses and other patient care staff working in general practice in Barrow and Furness.
DHSC has published modelled estimates, by constituency, of the number of full-time equivalent general practice doctors and nurse, plus other direct patient care staff.
The figures show an increase of 26.2% in people working in General Practice across Barrow and Furness, with 29.4 more total clinical FTE in September 2023 than the same month in 2019.
The NHS has recruited 36,000 additional staff into healthcare roles in general practices across the country since 2019 – well ahead of the target of 26,000 by March 2024.
Commenting, Mr. Fell said:
“I’m delighted that Barrow and Furness has seen an increase in general practice workforce. This should mean that residents will have increased access to the essential services they need, especially when the Pharmacy First scheme is considered, which should free up additional capacity within Furness’ GP community.”
This week, the Government also announced that two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic, as part of the Primary Care Access Recovery Plan.
The data shows that more than 25.7 million appointments (excluding Covid vaccinations) were delivered by GP practices in December 2023, an increase of 9% compared to pre-pandemic. This increase in appointments follows an NHS targeted support programme for GP practices to improve access for patients.
Thanks to the Primary Access Recovery Plan, which was published in May last year, more than 8 in 10 GP practices have now upgraded their telephone systems with the remaining practices signed up to make the move by March.
As well as this, the Pharmacy First scheme launched in January, with more than 10,000 pharmacies now treating people for seven common conditions including sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women over the age of 65.
This is expected to free-up to ten million GP appointments a year as well as giving people more choice in where and how they access care.
