The Government has announced a new £250 million package to ensure that residents can see their GP face-to-face.

This comes on top of £270 million invested to expand GP services over the past year.

Harlow’s MP, Robert Halfon, has been campaigning on behalf of residents who have battled extreme difficulties to make appointments with their GPs, which he says is “completely unacceptable.”

Mr Halfon addressed what needed change in a recent meeting with the West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, who are responsible for GP services in Epping and Harlow.

Another meeting is set to take place between him and the group to discuss hundreds of residents' complaints and highlight issues around accessing care.

The new package announced by the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid:

  • Massively increase the number of face-to-face appointments
  • Help tackle underperformance of GP services
  • Boost measures to tackle abuse at GP surgeries to make sure staff can work without fear for their safety
  • Enable patients to see different types of clinicians in general practice so their needs can be best met
  • Support upgrades to telephone systems so patients can quickly and easily speak to GP staff
  • Consider how the role of pharmacists can be increased in the supply of medication to relieve workload on GPs

Mr Halfon has strongly welcomed the announcement.

Commenting, he said: “Too many residents have faced difficulties in accessing their GPs, particularly in terms of face-to-face appointments. I have lobbied the Government to introduce more measures to tackle this - which this new £250 million package will help to do.

"I want to pay tribute to everyone who works in our GP and local health services.

“They have faced extraordinary circumstances over the past 18 months and they are true corona heroes who have worked tirelessly to care for residents.

“I am soon meeting again with the West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group to raise hundreds of cases on behalf of residents which set out the issues they are facing.

“This must change immediately and I would encourage any resident facing problems with accessing their GP to contact me directly and I will do all I can to help.”