MP barred from GP practice meetings after raising concerns about patient access
Martin Shipton
An MP who raised concerns about patient access to a GP practice in his constituency has been banned by the practice from attending patient participation group meetings.
Henry Tufnell, the Labour MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, learnt of the ban from the minutes of the last such meeting which included a sentence that stated: “It was agreed no further invites should be issued to Mr Tufnell MP to attend future PPG meetings.”
Public interest
A spokesperson for Mr Tufnell told Nation.Cymru: “I wanted to bring the following to your attention, as it relates to Henry’s key priorities, and is in the public interest.
“Since being elected, Henry has made the delivery of primary care a central focus of his work. He has been actively campaigning to improve access to GP services and has consistently emphasised the vital role that both the health board and individual GP surgeries play in ensuring patients receive timely, high-quality care.
“Henry continues to engage proactively and constructively with officials at Hywel Dda University Health Board, local practices, including cluster groups across Pembrokeshire, and, of course, his constituents. His aim is to help establish best practice across all GP surgeries in the county, addressing the clear discrepancies in service levels that have created a postcode lottery for patients.
“St Thomas’s Surgery in Haverfordwest is one example where concerns have been raised. Henry has highlighted issues around patient access and the booking system, which have been echoed by many constituents.
“Encouragingly, some patients have since reported improvements following Henry’s intervention.
“However, yesterday Henry received an email from St Thomas’s Surgery containing details of the next Patient Participation Group meeting and the minutes from the last meeting. The minutes included the following statement: ‘It was agreed no further invites should be issued to Mr Tufnell MP to attend future PPG meetings.’
“Henry has responded to the surgery directly, expressing his concern at being excluded from that engagement. He remains committed to advocating for improvements in primary care and will continue working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that patient voices are heard and acted upon.”
Shocked
In his letter to the practice, Mr Tufnell said: “Thank you for sending over the details of the next Patient Participation Group meeting.
“I was both shocked and concerned to see the note attached to the minutes indicating that I would be barred from attending future meetings. Excluding the local Member of Parliament from such engagement is not acceptable, and I know many constituents would be deeply concerned to learn of this decision.
“Since being elected, I have worked hard to highlight ways in which access to primary care can be improved. Issues with the booking system and appointment accessibility at St Thomas’s Surgery have been raised by countless constituents, and I have taken these concerns very seriously. I witnessed these issues first hand during three visits to the surgery, where I spoke directly with patients struggling to secure appointments.
“Following my intervention, I’ve also spoken with constituents who have noticed improvements to the booking system. I was pleased to receive this feedback and hope it will continue.
“I have been working closely with Professor Phillip Kloer, chief executive of the health board, who has acknowledged the challenges facing both primary and secondary care. He has also recognised the value of establishing best practice across all GP practices and I continue to work with the cluster groups across Pembrokeshire to improve access.
“Excluding the local MP from these discussions does not reflect the values of the NHS or those published by Hywel Dda University Health Board: ‘Striving to deliver and develop excellent services. Working together to be the best we can be.’
“While I am disappointed by the decision to exclude me from future meetings, it will not deter me from continuing to advocate for improvements in primary care. I remain committed to engaging constructively and proactively with officials at Hywel Dda University Health Board, local medical professionals, and most importantly, my constituents, whose access to health care remains my top priority.”
We sought comment from St Thomas’s Surgery, but have not received a response.
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Henry Tufnell MP is new to Wales and still packing away his parachute so might not realise that the NHS in Wales is devolved. It should be the MS who engages in the Patient Participation Group and the Hywel Dda Health Board. Not the MP. However, it appears he’s had to step in because the MS covering the area is Eluned Morgan who is currently in zombie mode.
Private school educated little Englander beyond Wales, insulting our intelligence by hoping we’re not aware that it’s his party that’s failing to manage healthcare in this country. Maybe he should re-train as a GP, but who in their right mind would want a tough job then have to listen to a posh boy rant from someone who will probably never do a proper job in his entire life. The NHS would also benefit from the millions of tax his family should pay had they not done the massive tax avoidance stunt last year, knowing inside information he should not have… Read more »
Your paertisan rant doesn’t do the NHS patients in Haverforwest or anywhere else any favours. I don’t particularly care which politician gets off his or her backside in an effort to get some “service” back into the health service at local level. Too often they just can’t be bothered. Resources are being rationed by Labour but the matter is often made even worse by the inefficiency of local practices.
Correct in many cases with the public sector.
But my point was stating that there’s nothing worse than a champagne socialist hypocrite, using private services for himself while avoiding tax that pays for public services.
As with the Homeless minister making people homeless and Housing minister avoiding Stamp Duty, he should have the tax avoidance stunt cancelled or made to resign. He would then obviously resign as his old family money is infinitely more important to him than the people of Pembrokeshire.
So you want our politicians to work for free?
Their salary should be the average wage of the area they represent and Labour ministers should stop avoiding inheritance tax when the buy holiday appartments as a second home in Brighton when their constituency home is in Greater Manchester. I agree with JJ.
Pembrokeshire MP denies leaking tax changes before Budget – The Pembrokeshire Herald
What has all that got to do with this news story? Henry Tufnell is responding to the concerns of his constituents regarding access to primary care. It doesn’t matter what school he went to, what his parents do or what car he drives or anything like that he is in a position where he can highlight a local issue. In fact as it is a health issue you could argue that the local MS should have been doing it louder and more effectively. It doesn’t matter that health is devolved in Wales this is about one GP practice not the… Read more »
He’s moonlighting for a Labour MS who won’t provide the support you say is needed. The correct process when an MP gets correspondence on a devolved matter is to forward details to the MS who has authority in these matters.
I don’t disagree with the fact that the process is not correct but let’s give him his due at least someone is TRYING to do something for their constituents and (as far as I’m aware) nothing corrupt, immoral or unethical is being done. We know Eluned Morgan SHOULD be the one shaking the tree but local issues are probably well below the Baroness’s capabilities. (She’s probably busy looking for a new job anyway if she’s got any grasp of reality.)
I agree. I would always relish the opportunity to speak my mind with a politician especially one that is bothered to turn up to meetings. This is not a correct decision to exclude him.
He has no more authorty to be at the meetings than MPs from England. NHS is devolved. His job is in Westminster to get his constituents winter fuel allowance, which is not devolved.
Of course he does he’s one of the elected representatives of the people involved
He is an elected representative for Westminster for his constituency. Of course he has the right amd authority to represent his constituency. That’s why they elected him in the area. He is doing his job and a darn sight better than many others. He will only know what trouble his constituency face if he immerses himself in the local meetings. So far it sounds like he has done well.
Who owns the surgery. Private but works for NHS?
The vast majority of GP surgeries are private, but also take on NHS work with an agreed contract. They are frequently set up as Limited Liability Partnerships (LLMs).
GPs have historically been private and not NHS owned.
A politician getting stuck in and delivering outcomes, that’s rare. This might not be his bag but at least he’s responding to concerns and getting things done.
Maybe he could have a chat with the MS.
The Labour MS for the area is absent without leave.
Toadying Starmer.
Scottish the BBC “Wales’ first minister has revealed that her reason for declining an invitation to the state banquet for President Trump was only “partly” because of the death of one of her Labour colleagues.
Speaking for the first time since deciding not to go Windsor Castle on Wednesday, Eluned Morgan told a Pembrokeshire radio station that she had a difference in politics with the president and mentioned the situation in Gaza.”