Tory MP attacks PM for trying to 'scapegoat' GPs

A senior Conservative has hit out at the Government for trying to "scapegoat" GPs for the pressures on emergency departments.

Dr Sarah Wollaston, a former family doctor who chairs an influential committee of MPs, said the profession was under "relentless pressure" and did not have the capacity to extend opening hours as demanded by the Government.

Outspoken Dr Wollaston hit out at the accusation - made by Downing Street - that GP surgeries were too often closing during the day.

The comments are likely to stoke ongoing tensions between ministers and the medical profession over NHS funding.

Theresa May this week warned GP surgeries to stay open longer, from 8am to 8pm seven days a week, to give patients appointments when they want them or risk losing funding.

The Prime Minister was said to be frustrated by the number of practices which do not offer extended opening hours, claiming the failure to do so adds to pressure on struggling A&Es.

But Dr Wollaston told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "As someone who has worked in the NHS for 24 years, it's entirely wrong to blame just one section of the workforce for this.

"GPs are extraordinarily stretched, working under relentless pressure, as bed numbers are being cut. We have the lowest number of beds per head in Europe.

"What we’re finding is more and more complex conditions coming to primary care... the workforce simply isn't there in many parts of the country.

"To then be suggesting that all of this problem is due to GPs not seeing people is really stretching it, it's just not the case, it's wrong to be scapegoating them in my view."

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Dr Wollaston has been a vocal critic of the Government on NHS funding.

As chair of the Commons Health Committee she has disputed the Government's claim that they have allocated NHS £10bn over this Parliament.

Today, she reiterated her criticism that the figure used by ministers was "not strictly true" due to cuts to social care and public health budgets - and she believes the true figure is closer to £4.5bn.

It places her on the side of NHS boss Simon Stephens, who said the Government was "stretching it" to make that claim.

He escalated tensions with Number 10 by pointing out the UK spent less on health than comparable Western nations.

Dr Wollaston disagreed with the Red Cross, which said the NHS was becoming a "humanitarian crisis" this month for going too far in comparing the UK to war zones. But she said winter pressures on the NHS, which ministers say are routine, have given way to "pressures all year round".

She defended GP surgeries which close during the day, saying: "As a former GP I would just reflect that just because they are sometimes not holding surgeries at that time, they are very often doing other vital things.

"There's a huge amount of administration and home visits…and very often that needs to take place during working hours, chasing up results and so forth and going to meetings with colleagues."