Joan Ryan MP has launched a primary care petition and survey, in order to put pressure on the Government to provide more GPs for Enfield.

Following the success of her petition to ‘Save North Middlesex Hospital’s A&E’, which has been signed by over 5,000 local residents, Joan’s new petition is seeking to ensure that Enfield has a plan for at least 84 more GPs in Enfield by 2020, as recommended by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). Joan Ryan has expressed concern that, over the last 6 years, 12 doctors’ surgeries in Enfield have closed and only 1 new practice has opened. Enfield, also, has fewer GPs per head than almost anywhere in the capital, despite being the 4th largest Borough in the whole of London.

Joan’s ‘GP Practice Patient Survey’ is asking local residents about their experiences of booking an appointment and seeing a doctor at a GP surgery in Enfield, in order to make the case to government to better support local primary care services.

Joan Ryan MP said: “In late 2013, when the Conservative-led government was axing Chase Farm Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department, the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, said “Enfield is getting an increase in primary care funding. That is part of our plan of not cutting but expanding our NHS.”

“Well, the facts speak for themselves and right now people in Enfield who need to see a GP are facing an acute appointments crisis. The government’s broken promises have left our NHS on its knees. We desperately need more GPs in Enfield and better funding for and better management of our local health services.

“The sorry state of our NHS is a major concern for local residents. When I was elected I gave a commitment to be a campaigning MP, speaking up for the needs of Enfield. My petition and survey will be a really useful means to engage and work together with the local community on this important issue and to show the government the strength of our community’s desire to protect vital primary care services in the Borough.”