Therese Coffey slammed for telling patients to just switch GPs if they fail to get a quick appointment

23rd September 2022

HEALTH Secretary Therese Coffey was slammed yesterday for telling patients to just switch GPs if they fail to get a quick appointment.

She admitted her two-week target for Brits wanting to see a doctor was not enforceable.

Health Secretary Therese Coffey was slammed yesterday for telling patients to just switch GPs if they fail to get a quick appointment

Ms Coffey had threatened to name and shame GPs who do not meet the “expectation”.

But she was accused of being “all words” when it emerged there will be no sanctions if they do not.

She said: “One of the points about publishing data by practice is it may give some patients the opportunity to choose to use a different GP.”

Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “What is the consequence if GPs don’t meet her expectation?

“Her message is, ‘Get on your bike and find a new GP.’. Are patients supposed to be grateful for this?”

Ms Coffey said she was keeping the four-hour target for A&E waiting times.

It has not been hit for more than seven years and health chiefs were keen to ditch it.

But Ms Coffey reiterated her commitment to it, saying: “I believe it matters.”