URL: https://moderngov.sutton.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=4237

Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: The motion was moved by Councillor Qasim Esak and seconded by Councillor Sunita Gordon.   An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Mike Dwyer and seconded by Councillor Param Nandha.   Following debate the amendment was put to the vote and lost. The original motion was put to the vote and carried.   RESOLVED:   Council notes that: 1.    Sutton’s GP services are well regarded, and in a recent Sutton Healthwatch survey investigating people’s experience of their GP surgery, 86% of residents who attended an appointment thought it went very well or quite well. This is credit to the hard working GPs and their Practice staff. 2.    One in four respondents to the same survey said they found it hard to contact their GP surgery, of whom half said they were not able to make contact at all.  3.    Without easy access to GP appointments residents may decide to stop seeking healthcare from their surgery because they are too frustrated with the booking process. This will lead to poor health outcomes, especially for those most in need who are more likely to be affected by a failure to get an appointment. 4.    Reasons for finding it hard to contact their surgery included childcare and work commitments, which made it difficult to be available at the right time of day. Other respondents struggled with the introduction of digital technology or having to book appointments during a short, usually early morning time window.  5.    It’s clear that local residents’ health has paid the price for years of historic NHS underfunding by the previous Conservative government.  6.    In 2024 there were over 222,500 waits of over a month (more than 28 days) for a GP appointment in the South West London ICB. The Liberal Democrats are calling for the right to see a GP within a week.   Council recognises: 1.    Healthwatch Sutton made seven recommendations which the council endorses fully and we also would urge GP Surgeries to consider the extra needs of carers when they are making appointments either for themselves or the loved ones they support. 2.    That constant changes to GPs’ contracts and funding during the previous Conservative Government, and the imposition of the Labour Government’s Employer National Insurance increases, have made it increasingly difficult for GPs to provide the service standards that they would desire. 3.    Recent changes to GP contracts which encourage online access and should reduce the 8 am scramble for appointments. However Council believes that Sutton’s GP surgeries need to go faster and sign up to the recommendations of the Healthwatch report. 4.    The need for booking appointment systems to take advantage of technology ,but also to acknowledge that many residents need a non-digital method of booking appointments and accessing services. 5.    The recent opening of the Belmont surgery serving up to 13,000 residents and the space set aside in the new B&Q development for medical and health provider use. 6.    That the increased use of Physicians Associates brought in by the last Government as a cheap means of improving patient access is recognised by the British Medical Association as an unsafe practice. 7.    In 2019, the previous Conservative government promised to deliver 6,000 more doctors, but the number of qualified GPs has fallen by over 500. This lack of access to GPs means more residents are going into A&E or needing an ambulance because they can’t see a doctor on time.   Council Resolves: 1.    To fully endorse the recommendations of the 2024 Healthwatch Sutton Report ‘Investigating People’s Experiences of GP’s surgeries in Sutton’.   Council Calls: 1.      On all of Sutton’s GP surgeries to fully embrace the Healthwatch report and recommendations.  2.    For the Council Leader and local MPs to write jointly to the local NHS Commissioners and all Sutton GP surgeries asking them to say how they will fulfil the Healthwatch recommendations.    

Date of Decision: April 28, 2025