DR ELLIE CANNON: Congrats on the new job, Wes. But here's what you need to do to solve GP crisis

DR ELLIE CANNON: Congrats on the new job, Wes. But here's what you need to do to solve GP crisis By Dr Ellie Cannon For The Mail On Sunday Published: 20:54 EDT, 13 July 2024 | Updated: 20:55 EDT, 13 July 2024 e-mail View comments Our new Health Secretary, Wes Streeting , paid a visit to my practice in London last week – on his first day in the job. He chose to come to us first on the advice of NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard, who I had previously invited to come see the good work we were doing.

Mr Streeting sent a clear message that he plans, as he put it, to 'fix the front door to the NHS'. Billions of pounds would be diverted from hospitals to GP surgeries, he said, to resolve the crisis which has seen patients struggle to get appointments. Despite record demand, we get just ten per cent of the £165 billion NHS budget, so this was welcome news.

I liked Mr Streeting. But it'll take more than cash and supportive words to fix the monumental issues facing patients in primary care. Having had a few days to reflect on our meeting, I've come up with my own five-point plan – should he choose to listen – could go some way to resolving the crisis.

So good luck, Wes...

Wes Streeting with Dr Ellie and her colleagues outside their surgery in London Health Secretary Wes Streeting (left) with Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard on July 8 End the mad rush for appointments at 8am It has been the biggest gripe from Mail on Sunday readers over the past few years – t.