Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, has asked Ministers at the Department of Health and Social Care, about the publication of the social care green paper and GP shortages in the Clacton constituency. You can read the exchange below:
Question One: Social Care
Giles Watling
When his Department plans to publish the Green Paper on social care.
The Minister for Care (Caroline Dinenage)
The Green Paper on adult social care remains a priority for the Government. We will shortly be publishing this document, which sets out proposals to reform the adult social care system.
Giles Watling
I thank my hon. Friend for her answer. This issue was raised with me recently by Councillor John Spence of Essex County Council. I am concerned that two years later, we are still waiting for the publication of the Green Paper. Of course, we must get it right, but people need change to the social care system and they need it now. What further steps can she take to speed up this process?
The Minister for Care (Caroline Dinenage)
I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met the gentleman my hon. Friend refers to. I understand and share my hon. Friend’s frustration. We need to ensure that the social care system is sustainable in the long term and we have taken some time to get these big decisions right, but I can assure him that the Green Paper will be published at the earliest opportunity.
Question Two: GP Shortages
Giles Watling
Last September, the number of medical school places increased by a quarter, as we have just heard. That is great news, but apart from offering premiums, how can we incentivise newly qualified GPs to come to places like Clacton where we have an acute shortage?
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Matt Hancock)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right: the £20,000 bonus is an important part of the solution, but so is having more GPs, and the fact that we have a record number of people going into GP training at the moment is great news that Members in all parts of this House should welcome.