“Being able to get a GP appointment when you need one is vitally
important to families and communities across the country, so we
must modernise the way primary care works to keep up with patient
demand and help to cut NHS waiting lists.
Today, we’re launching a radical plan to improve access to
primary care.
This is how the measures will affect you.
We’re getting rid of the 8am rush for GP
appointments
I know how frustrating it is to be stuck on hold to your GP
practice when you need an appointment for a common illness.
We will end the 8am rush by making sure patients are either given
an appointment immediately when they call, or signposted to a
more appropriate service such as NHS 111 or their local pharmacy.
You will no longer be told to call back later.
You can get prescription medication directly from a
pharmacy, without a GP appointment
For the first time ever, patients who need prescription
medication will be able to get it directly from a pharmacy,
without a GP appointment, for things like earache, sore throat,
or urinary tract infections.
This also extends to contraception. Now women will no longer have
to speak to a nurse or GP to get the oral contraceptive pill - it
will be available direct from their local pharmacy.
There will be more GP appointments available to
you
By expanding the role of pharmacies, fewer people will need to
see their GP in the first place.
Today’s plans are expected to free up around 15 million GP
appointments over the next two years for patients who need them
most.
Which means the next time you want to see your GP, you should be
able to do so quicker.
You’ll be able to access your medical records on the NHS
app
The new plan will give you better access to your own medical
records.
Within the next year 90% of people will be able to access their
GP records, including test results, on the NHS app within the
next year.
This plan is personal to me, I grew up in an NHS family and I’m
passionate about making sure you get access to the best medical
attention, when you need it.
This bold and innovative package of measures will significantly
change how the NHS works for the better not least for GPs and
pharmacies, but above all you – whose day-to-day experience of
healthcare will be significantly enhanced by this new service.”
Prime Minister
