Westminster Hall adjournment debate on general practitioners in Northamptonshire.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on general practitioners in Northamptonshire.

May I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that at his party's conference, the shadow Secretary of State for Health announced his intention to rip up GPs' contracts and start again. I assume that the hon. Gentleman is bound by the policy of those on his own Front Bench.

May I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that at his party's conference, the shadow Secretary of State for Health announced his intention to rip up GPs' contracts and start again. I assume that the hon. Gentleman is bound by the policy of those on his own Front Bench.

It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Taylor. I congratulate the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on securing this Adjournment debate. The intervention of the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) was obviously important from his constituents' point of view. I have to say, as...

It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Taylor. I congratulate the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) on securing this Adjournment debate. The intervention of the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) was obviously important from his constituents' point of view. I have to say, as...

I shall deal with that accusation head-on. In 2006-07, the allocation to the PCT increased to £730 million—a cash increase of 12.7 per cent. In 2007-08, it received £870 million, which is a further cash increase of 12 per cent. That is a cash increase of 26.3 per cent. over...

I shall deal with that accusation head-on. In 2006-07, the allocation to the PCT increased to £730 million—a cash increase of 12.7 per cent. In 2007-08, it received £870 million, which is a further cash increase of 12 per cent. That is a cash increase of 26.3 per cent. over...

I shall make some progress and then give way to the hon. Gentleman. Major progress has been made in Northamptonshire. All Northamptonshire patients are able to see a GP or a nurse for a routine appointment within 48 hours, Northamptonshire practices achieved an average of 960.1 quality points out of...

I shall make some progress and then give way to the hon. Gentleman. Major progress has been made in Northamptonshire. All Northamptonshire patients are able to see a GP or a nurse for a routine appointment within 48 hours, Northamptonshire practices achieved an average of 960.1 quality points out of...

I will give way in a moment. I shall provide some recent information, which is not made up, about what is happening in the hon. Gentleman's health economy area. Six large extensions opened in 2007—three in Northampton, two in Corby and one in Daventry—and a new surgery has opened in...

I will give way in a moment. I shall provide some recent information, which is not made up, about what is happening in the hon. Gentleman's health economy area. Six large extensions opened in 2007—three in Northampton, two in Corby and one in Daventry—and a new surgery has opened in...

The tone of the hon. Gentleman's presentation was to talk down the NHS and its performance, and to use anecdotes to say that the Government's desire to respond to patient preference and choice is misguided. He did not refer to the fact that at his party's conference, the shadow Secretary...

The tone of the hon. Gentleman's presentation was to talk down the NHS and its performance, and to use anecdotes to say that the Government's desire to respond to patient preference and choice is misguided. He did not refer to the fact that at his party's conference, the shadow Secretary...

No. It is exceptionally disingenuous for hon. Members who represent a political party that slashed NHS spending in every part of the country to come here and undermine the massive additional, above-average investment in their communities. We should remember that during the past seven or eight years, that party has...

No. It is exceptionally disingenuous for hon. Members who represent a political party that slashed NHS spending in every part of the country to come here and undermine the massive additional, above-average investment in their communities. We should remember that during the past seven or eight years, that party has...

The hon. Gentleman has rightly said that we should value GPs, that they ought to have more priority and that there is too much emphasis on hospitals. How does he feel that ripping up GPs' contracts will enhance morale amongst GPs in his community?

The hon. Gentleman has rightly said that we should value GPs, that they ought to have more priority and that there is too much emphasis on hospitals. How does he feel that ripping up GPs' contracts will enhance morale amongst GPs in his community?