Health Secretary Wes Streeting was slapped down by the BBC’s Nick Robinson this morning, as he floundered after being asked a simple question about the NHS. The Health Secretary appeared on the daily ministerial broadcast round to boast about his claim that the Government has beaten its target of hiring more GPs.

Mr Streeting claims that while the Government promised 1,000 new GPs by the end of March, he’s actually achieved 1,503 by the same deadline. However the British Medical Association say the true number is the equivalent of just 850 full time new posts. Nick Robinson moved passed this row to ask Mr Streeting whether the number of GPs per head of the population has increased thanks to his new hiring drive, or whether the level of immigration means that it’s not making any difference to the real-world experience of Britons.

The BBC star pointed out: “The total number of doctors doesn’t matter. What matters is the number per head of population. Can you tell us [whether it’s increasing per head]?”

Mr Streeting squirmed as he couldn’t confirm the numbers.

He conceded: “Of course per head matters, but that’s why increasing the number of GPs matters. I said we’d recruit 1,000 GPs by the end of March, we’ve actually recruited 1,500 by the end of March.

“The data you cited from the BMA is actually slightly out of date - it’s February data. It doesn’t take into account data by the end of March, so we will have recruited 1,000 full-time equivalents.”

Mr Robinson repeated: “Do you know the answer per head? I don’t, I’m not trying to catch you out I just wonder if you know?”

Mr Streeting admitted: “Not off the top of my head. Of course there’s more to do.”

He attempted to move the conversation on by listing his other achievements on waiting lists, and reassuring voters that the government is meeting its promises on the NHS.

However at this point the BBC interviewer jumped in to accuse the Health Secretary of attempting to turn the interview into a propaganda broadcast for the Labour Party.

He slapped Mr Streeting down: “Forgive me but this is turning into a party election broadcast and I want to ask you some questions!”

Mr Streeting hit back: “No it’s not, it’s reporting back to people on what we’re actually doing, and against a backdrop of lots of cynicism it’s important that we report back on what we’re actually doing.”

Mr Robinson insisted he had not intended to be rude and conceded that Mr Streeting “has a job to do in reporting back on this and that’s perfectly fair.”