The government’s GP recruitment scheme, which has cost £82 million, has delivered “only” three new doctors for Wokingham.
Analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that three new GPs have been recruited in the borough since October 2024, a move that has been branded at “not good enough” by MP Clive Jones.
In a statement, he noted how Wokingham has been worst hit by the national GP shortage, leaving people waiting weeks for appointments, and having to suffer through the 8am scramble to see a GP.
Last year, the government announced an additional £82 million to employ 1,000 GPs via the Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme.
Jones said the scheme has only delivered three new GPs for Wokingham, and while any increase in the number of GPs is welcome news, it is a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the challenge that our NHS faces.
While GP figures are declining, the total number of patients that each GP is responsible for has risen.
House of Commons Library research reveals that the number of patients per fully qualified GP in Wokingham and surrounding areas is 2,481, well above the England average of 2,257.
Jones said this strain will only worsen with major developments in Arborfield and South Wokingham seeing more people moving into housing without the necessary health infrastructure to cope.
He made clear that the reality is far too many people across Wokingham are still struggling to get a GP appointment when they desperately need one.
He has called for patients to be given a legal right to a GP appointment within a week, or 24 hours if urgent, and for the government to recruit 8,000 new GPs.
He added to this commitment by calling for new, dedicated General Practices in Arborfield and South Wokingham.
Jones said: “The Conservative government failed our NHS, and patients are paying the price. Labour needs to do more to fix this mess.
“£82million spent on scheme that has given Wokingham just three new GPs is not good enough.
“The Government’s flagship scheme has failed to deliver for people in Wokingham.
“I will continue pushing for more GPs and GP surgeries to be made available for Wokingham, and for greater NHS reform to solve this crisis.”
