Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 10 May 2023.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 9 May 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s plan to improve access to primary care.

“Being able to get a GP appointment when you need one is vitally important to families and communities across the country, so we must modernise the way primary care works to keep up with patient demand and help to cut NHS waiting lists.

Today, we’re launching a radical plan to improve access to primary care.

This is how the measures will affect you.

We’re getting rid of the 8am rush for GP appointments

I know how frustrating it is to be stuck on hold to your GP practice when you need an appointment for a common illness.

We will end the 8am rush by making sure patients are either given an appointment immediately when they call, or signposted to a more appropriate service such as NHS 111 or their local pharmacy.

You will no longer be told to call back later.

You can get prescription medication directly from a pharmacy, without a GP appointment

For the first time ever, patients who need prescription medication will be able to get it directly from a pharmacy, without a GP appointment, for things like earache, sore throat, or urinary tract infections.

This also extends to contraception. Now women will no longer have to speak to a nurse or GP to get the oral contraceptive pill – it will be available direct from their local pharmacy.

There will be more GP appointments available to you

By expanding the role of pharmacies, fewer people will need to see their GP in the first place.

Today’s plans are expected to free up around 15 million GP appointments over the next two years for patients who need them most.

Which means the next time you want to see your GP, you should be able to do so quicker.

You’ll be able to access your medical records on the NHS app

The new plan will give you better access to your own medical records.

Within the next year 90% of people will be able to access their GP records, including test results, on the NHS app within the next year.

This plan is personal to me, I grew up in an NHS family and I’m passionate about making sure you get access to the best medical attention, when you need it.

This bold and innovative package of measures will significantly change how the NHS works for the better not least for GPs and pharmacies, but above all you – whose day-to-day experience of healthcare will be significantly enhanced by this new service.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 7 May 2023.

Community heroes, Ukrainian families and youth groups will gather in Downing Street today for a special Coronation lunch hosted by the Prime Minister and Mrs Murty.

Community heroes, Ukrainian families and youth groups will gather in Downing Street today for a special Coronation lunch hosted by the Prime Minister and Mrs Murty.

The event is taking place as part of The Big Lunch, a nationwide initiative to bring neighbours and communities together to celebrate the Coronation.

Over 50,000 Big Lunch street parities are expected to take place in the UK and in countries across the globe.

Downing Street will be adorned with bunting featuring the official Coronation emblem and the Union Flag. Crockery will be donated by Emma Bridgewater – the award-winning ceramics company based in Stroke-on-Trent – including a limited edition King Charles III teapot.

Recipients of the Points of Light Award – volunteers that have made an outstanding contribution to their community – have been invited to attend the event.

They include Zoe and Andy Clark-Coates who set up Saying Goodbye a charity that supports thousands of people who have lost a child during pregnancy, at birth or infancy – and Navjot Sawhney whose hand-cranked washing machine is benefitting over 1,000 families without access to an electric machine in underdeveloped countries or refugee camps.

Also joining is Laura Ashurst from Stokesley in North Yorkshire. A three-time breast cancer survivor, Laura has campaigned for fifteen years to improve the lives of the 35,000 women across the UK with secondary breast cancer.

Attendees will enjoy food sourced from across the UK, including Loch Duart salmon from Sutherland in North West Scotland and soda farl from Northern Ireland.

Beef will come from Gloucestershire in South West England and ice cream has been sourced from Chilly Cow, a company based in Ruthin, Wales.

Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s war on Ukraine and their UK-based sponsors will also join the event. They include Olga Breslavska who travelled to the UK as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme and is currently studying an intensive English course. Caroline Quill – a Homes for Ukraine sponsor – has been instrumental in matching 250 families across East Sussex and Kent and will also join the lunch.

Young people from organisations such as UK Youth and the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs have also been invited to mark the occasion.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

Come rain or shine, thousands of friends and neighbours are coming together this weekend to put up the bunting, pour the tea and cut the cake at street parties and community events across the UK.

I am proud to welcome Ukrainians forced to flee their homes and some incredible community heroes to Downing Street for our very own Coronation lunch to celebrate this historic moment.

In England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland – and across our Overseas Territories and the wider Commonwealth – people are marking this momentous occasion in the spirit of unity and hope for the future

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 May 2023.

The Prime Minister hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Downing Street this evening.

The leaders remarked on how special the occasion had been and reflected on their conversations with counterparts from across the world.

Discussing the UK’s recent accession to Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Trudeau for his support, and both agreed to use the momentum to further bilateral trade talks.

Looking ahead of the G7 in Hiroshima this month, both welcomed the strong alignment between G7 nations on addressing global challenges and praised Japan’s focus on economic resilience during their presidency.

The leaders also discussed how Canada and the UK could deepen collaboration on defence and security technology, including in cyber security and quantum.

Turning to Ukraine, the leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring Ukraine continues to get the support it needs for its defence and reconstruction, now and for years to come. They looked forward to an important summit for NATO at Vilnius.

The leaders looked forward to seeing one another at the G7 later this month.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 6 May 2023.

The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has issued words to mark the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6 May 2023.

The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be a moment of extraordinary national pride.

Together with friends from across the Commonwealth and beyond, we will celebrate the enduring nature of our great monarchy: its constancy, devotion to duty, and service to others.

No other country could put on such a dazzling display – the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies, and street parties.

But this is not just a spectacle.

It’s a proud expression of our history, culture, and traditions.

A vivid demonstration of the modern character of our country.

And a cherished ritual through which a new era is born.

In the Abbey where monarchs have been crowned for almost a thousand years, representatives of every faith will play a central role for the first time.

And in a fitting tribute to the spirit of service that will define the Carolean Age, people across our country will help their communities with thousands of acts of kindness.

So let’s celebrate this weekend with pride in who we are and what we stand for. Let’s look to the future with hope and optimism. And let’s make new memories, so we can tell our grandchildren of the day we came together to sing: God Save The King.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 May 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed President Lula da Silva to Downing Street today.

The leaders discussed the great potential in the relationship between the UK and Brazil, including in health, research and development and technology.

On trade, the leaders agreed on the importance of working together to address trade barriers and unlock investment between the two countries.

The Prime Minister praised President Lula’s leadership on climate change and welcomed his reflections on the concerning situation in the Amazon.

The UK would contribute £80 million to the Amazon Fund to help stop deforestation and save the rich biodiversity in the area, the Prime Minister added.

That contribution built on the launch of the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership at COP27, which was another strong signal of the UK’s commitment to the protecting the Amazon, the Prime Minister said.

The leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine and agreed that Russia’s invasion was unacceptable, as was the killing of innocent civilians.

Peace was in everyone’s interests, both leaders agreed.

The Prime Minister said that while Russia’s forces remained in Ukraine it would be impossible for the country to find peace and reiterated the need for the international community to continue to press President Putin to withdraw his troops.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch and looked forward to seeing each other at the G7 later this month, and to Brazil hosting the G20 in 2024.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 May 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame to Downing Street.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 May 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, to Downing Street this morning.

The Prime Minister thanked the Amir for travelling to London for the Coronation of His Majesty the King, noting that it reflected the enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and Qatar.

The leaders discussed the exciting opportunities to deepen cooperation between our two countries, including through greater investment in strategic industries such the partnership between Qatar and Rolls Royce to invest in ground-breaking green engineering projects. They highlighted the unique joint RAF squadrons operating in Qatar and committed to further develop our defence cooperation.

Turning to international affairs, the leaders shared their deep concern at the unfolding conflict in Sudan. They stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts to facilitate talks between the parties, to end the violence and transition to a civilian-led democratic government.

The Prime Minister also welcomed Qatar’s principled support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion and they agreed our governments would continue to work together to support Ukraine’s defence and recovery.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 May 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Chris Hipkins, at Downing Street today ahead of His Majesty The King’s Coronation tomorrow.

The leaders welcomed the announcement that New Zealand and the UK’s Free Trade Agreement would come into force this month, agreeing it would unlock huge trading potential for both countries.

Reflecting on strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific, the leaders discussed the UK and New Zealand’s shared commitment to uphold stability in the region and how both countries could work closely with partners to improve economic resilience.

The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Hipkins for New Zealand’s strong commitment to Ukraine and the leaders discussed New Zealand’s contribution to Operation Interflex.

The tangible support offered by New Zealand through that programme was clearly making a difference on the battlefield in Ukraine, the Prime Minister said, welcoming Prime Minister Hipkin’s commitment to extend New Zealand’s training through to 2024.

The leaders also discussed the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will be hosted in Samoa in 2024, and looked forward to working closely with Pacific partners to deliver a successful summit.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 5 May 2023.