Your same doctor will see you now

STRETCHED GPs welcomed Wes Streeting's funding pledge to repair the damage that 14 years of Tory rule has inflicted.

- MARTIN BAGOT

The Health Secretary yesterday set the ball rolling on his election vow to plough an extra £889million into their budget and promised to slash red tape and targets so medics can treat more patients.

He also pledged to bring in GP incentives so people will see the same doctor at each appointment.

The reforms across England's 6,311 practices hope to end the infuriating 8am scramble where patients turn up on the day hoping to get an appointment.

They also include extra cash for doctors who identify the most cases of high blood pressure and stop cases ending up in hospital.

BUCKLING And GPs will be rewarded for the more common killer conditions such as heart disease they prevent.

Mr Streeting said: "We promised to bring back the family doctor, but we want to be judged by results, not promises. That's why we will incentivise GPs to ensure more and more patients see the same doctor at each appointment.

"It is clear the system is broken.

General practice is buckling under the burden of bureaucracy, with GPS filling out forms instead of treating patients.