This petition was submitted during the 2019 to 2024 Parliament
Rejected petition Open GP surgeries with face to face appointments immediately
Rejected on
Enforce the opening up of GP surgeries with immediate effect.
Count less people are not being diagnosed in time inc. Cancer and lives are being lost.
Why was this petition rejected?
There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.
You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.
You may wish to sign this petition calling for a similar action: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/587701
Decisions on when to offer a face to face, as opposed to a remote, consultation are an operational decision for GPs and NHS Trusts.
You may be interested to know that NHS England wrote to GP practices on 13 May, specifying that practices must make a clear offer of face to face appointments, and respect patient preferences for face to face appointments where clinically appropriate. You can read the letter here:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/B0497-GP-access-letter-May-2021-FINAL.pdfWe only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.