RCGP ‘extremely disappointed’ by result of vote on Lords Amendment 29 to Health and Care Bill

RCGP responding to the result of the vote on the workforce planning amendment (Lords Amendment 29) to the Health and Care Bill in the House of Commons this evening.

Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Our NHS is nothing without its people, so it’s extremely disappointing that MPs have voted against the workforce planning amendment to the Health and Care Bill in the House of Commons today. This is a crucial missed opportunity to address historic poor workforce planning in the NHS that has led to the unrelenting pressure that GPs, our teams and colleagues across the health service are working under.

“Over the last month more than 1,900 GPs wrote to their MP to outline why this amendment was so important for patient care and the sustainability of the NHS and to encourage them to support it. Today’s result in parliament has let down healthcare professionals working in general practice and the wider NHS. These are the same individuals who have been at the frontline of the pandemic response over the last two years and continue to work tirelessly to meet an escalating need for care, as well as the NHS backlog, without enough staff to safely do so.

“Whilst this is a significant setback, this development will not deter the College and more than 100 organisations in the health sector, who support the need for a stronger NHS workforce that is equipped to meet the needs of a rapidly growing and ageing population both now and in the future. This is essential for the sustainability of general practice, the wider NHS and the care we are able to deliver for patients.”

Further information

RCGP Press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editor

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 52,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.