Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to today’s GP workforce figures, said:

“Yet again we see more evidence that Tory promises on the NHS are worthless – Theresa May promised patients 5,000 more GPs in local communities but in fact the number of GPs across the country has fallen by 900.

“Properly resourced General Practice is absolutely key to keeping people well and relieving wider pressures on the NHS. We’re now seeing a crisis in primary care with GPs numbers falling, practises closing and patients forced to wait longer and longer for an appointment. Only Labour will properly fund General Practice and give patients a better deal.”