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Written question asked by Caroline Johnson (Conservative) on Monday, 18 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 21 May 2026 (named day). A holding answer was provided on Friday, 22 May 2026. A substantive answer was provided by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Thursday, 18 June 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


General Practitioners: Contracts

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answers of 1 April 2026 to Question 122780 and 25 March 2026 to Question 120988 on General Practitioners: Contracts and with reference to the oral statement of 16 April 2026 on the Women's Health Strategy, whether waiting times for patients who are offered secondary care following an Advice and Guidance (A&G) request in (a) March, (b) April, (c) May, (d) June, (e) July, (f) August, (g) September, (h) October and (i) November 2026.will be calculated from (i) the date the A&G request is received, (ii) the date the A&G request is accepted as a referral and (iii) other dates on the pathway.

Answer

As per long-standing practice, an Advice and Guidance (A&G) request itself does not begin the formal period of waiting. If a referral is then made, the waiting time is calculated from when the provider receives notice of that referral


When providers move to an elective Single Point of Access (SPoA) model, as set out in the Medium Term Planning Framework, for patients referred for secondary care treatment following an A&G request, the waiting time will be calculated from the date the request is received by the SPoA.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
2063
Session
2026-27
Related items
General Practitioners: Contracts
Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
General Practitioners: Contracts
Wednesday, 1 April 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Women’s Health Strategy
Thursday, 16 April 2026
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Registered interest declared
Yes
Subjects
Contracts Advisory services Women Hospitals General practitioners Waiting lists
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk