Tories Pledge £1bn for More GP Appointments Amid NHS Cuts and Polling Woes

The Conservative party has committed £1 billion to boost GP visit availability, with planned reductions in NHS management spending to pre-pandemic levels to fund the initiative. Meanwhile, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has acknowledged that the government's tax reductions prior to the elections failed to gain favor with the electorate.

Political correspondent

Sunday, June 2, 2024, 12:

The Tory administration has committed to an annual investment of £1 billion to boost the availability of doctor appointments across the UK.

The Conservative Party has pledged to construct additional GP offices and community diagnostic facilities should they secure another term in office.

The party plans to construct 100 new general practitioner offices and upgrade an additional 150.

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This reflects the 2019 commitment to construct 40 new hospitals by 2030, a goal the National Audit Office has stated the government will be unable to meet.

According to a study published last year, only 32 out of the 40 hospitals Boris Johnson pledged would be constructed by the decade's end, with a few potentially being undersized.

The Conservatives aim to expand the variety of services offered at pharmacies, building on a previously launched initiative.

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Proponents argue that addressing ailments like acne and chest infections could liberate 20 million doctor visits annually once the initiative is in full swing.

Rishi Sunak stated, "The NHS stands as a crucial asset to our nation, and the Conservatives are committed to making strategic choices to ensure its sustainability."

In line with our strategic vision, we are channeling funds into community-based services, enhancing the speed, accessibility, and convenience with which patients can access necessary care. This initiative also aims to alleviate the strain on hospital services.

"Only the Conservative Party is committed to making the decisive moves necessary to ensure a stable future for the NHS, giving you peace of mind that it will always be available for you and your loved ones whenever required."

This occurs as the Conservatives remain trailing behind Labour in the polls.

In a recent interview with the Mail on Sunday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt acknowledged that his party's strategy of tax reductions did not succeed in attracting voter support. He also mentioned that implementing an additional tax cut would likely not have altered public sentiment.

He stated: "Considering we've implemented two major tax reductions that haven't shifted public opinion, I believe introducing a third similar cut would probably not alter the situation either."

He explained: "According to the Bank of England, it takes about 18 months for changes in interest rates to affect individual finances. Thus, the notion that a reduction in interest rates immediately improves everyone's financial situation underestimates the decision-making process of people."

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The administration has committed to a healthcare initiative that will necessitate an additional £1 billion in funding by the decade's end. This will be achieved by reducing the number of NHS managers to the levels seen before the pandemic and by decreasing reliance on management consultants, according to officials.

The statement was made shortly after the Labour Party revealed its strategy to reduce legal immigration.

Labour's shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, asserted that the Conservative Party has failed to fulfill its campaign pledge of increasing the number of general practitioners (GPs). Instead, since 2016, there has been a reduction of 1,700 GPs and over 450 GP practices have been

People are struggling more than ever to get an appointment with a GP. Given this, why would they believe yet another hollow pledge?

"Currently, it's difficult to get a doctor's appointment, and the situation may deteriorate further if the Conservatives remain in power for another five-year term.

"Labour plans to educate numerous additional GPs and reduce the bureaucratic hurdles that consume their time, aiming to restore the role of the family doctor."

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