§ Mr. TruswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP practices have achieved the NHS Plan target for patients to see their GP within 24 hours in(a) Leeds LS28, (b) Pudsey constituency, (c) each of the Leeds primary care groups, (d) West Yorkshire and (e) the UK. [39964]
§ Mr. HuttonPatient surveys identify ready access to primary care as a key issue and the NHS Plan sets a target that by 2004 all patients will be able to see a primary care professional within 24 hours or a GP within 48 hours if they choose to do so. From September 2001 we have been using quarterly telephone surveys of GP practices to monitor progress towards delivery of this target. The results of these surveys indicate that on a national basis the interim milestone for March 2002 of 60 per cent. compliance will be achieved. Detailed and reliable data 549W are not available in all the formats requested, but surveys to date do also suggest that the milestone will be achieved within the Leeds health area.
Further progress towards the target will be supported in 2002–03 by an earmarked increase of £83.5 million in the PCT Primary Care Access Fund to £168 million and by expanding the capacity of the National Primary Care Development Team.