The system is damaged. Patients ought to have care nearer to residence from a well-recognized face, writes Health Secretary WES STREETING

Back in the summer, I pledged to fix the front door to the NHS, making clear to GPs that the cavalry was coming.

The scale of this challenge is enormous – general practice has been broken by chronic underfunding, form-filling farce, and record demand. Patients and staff are bearing the brunt.

Many Mail readers will have fallen victim to the 8am rush to get an appointment, waited weeks to see a GP, or ended up in A&E because they’ve given up trying to get through the front door to the NHS.

However, since taking office, we have already significantly increased monthly payments to practices, are investing an extra £100million to upgrade the crumbling GP estate, and we’re starting to hire 1,000 extra doctors who, without our action, would have faced unemployment.

But we must go further. We committed in our manifesto to bring back the family doctor, and we promised to shift care out of hospitals and into the community as part of our 10-Year Health Plan.

And we meant it. Our Plan for Change will deliver a decade of national renewal and get the NHS back on its feet, but we expect to be judged by results – not promises.

So today I am unveiling a package of proposals – backed by the biggest funding boost to general practice in years with an extra £889million – to reform the sector, slash ridiculous red tape and free doctors up to spend more time caring for their patients.

These proposals are now out for consultation with the British Medical Association to provide its feedback.

Today I am unveiling a package of proposals slash ridiculous red tape and free doctors up to spend more time caring for their patients, writes WES STREETING

I am putting resources into general practice to build a neighbourhood health service, so people can be cared by a familiar face close to home (file photo)

I am putting resources back into general practice to build a neighbourhood health service, so people can be cared for closer to their home by a familiar face.

I now want to speak directly to GPs – I recognise the difficulties you’ve faced for years, and I hear your frustration, exhaustion and exasperation.

We are working with you to fix the NHS. In return, collective action must come to an end.

Working to rule will only harm patients – and then nobody wins. The proposals I’ve set out will mark a huge step to achieving the reform GPs and patients have been calling for.

Let’s now work together to get the health service back on its feet and deliver world-class care for patients everywhere.