Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, is encouraged by new data showing a 7% increase in the number of GP appointments offered locally but is continuing to push for better services for patients.
Figures released last week show there were 5,658,980 GP appointments across the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board in the 12 months up until November 2023, 7% more than the same period in 2019.
While this news has been welcomed by local MP Ben, he is determined to ensure better access to GP services for local patients and believes the new Pharmacy First approach announced by the Government and the opening of two new Community Diagnostic Centres in Milton Keynes will help improve numbers.
He said: "A 7% increase in GP appointments across our local area is of course really encouraging news but I understand the frustration of local people when they are trying to get face-to-face GP appointments so there is still more to do."
"The Government is making some really important and positive changes that will help free up GP appointments including Pharmacy First to allow patients to get treatment for seven common conditions directly from their local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription.
"And we've already opened one new Community Diagnostic Centre in Whitehouse which is delivering tests, checks and scans for local people with another one on the way in Central Milton Keynes so we are doing lots of work and investing lots of money into better access to healthcare for residents in Milton Keynes."
