Thousands of people will soon find it easier to visit a GP thanks to a wave of new GP practices and walk-in services set to open next year in towns and cities hit by the poorest access to primary care services.
More GPs for under doctored areas
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has revealed the six primary care trusts (PCTs) to benefit from Government support to improve patient access to NHS care outside of hospitals. The first patients to benefit under the programme will be those in London (two PCTs), Liverpool, Lancashire, Plymouth and Yorkshire.
With support from the Department of Health, PCTs in these areas will open a total of three new walk-in services; two new GP practices; one nurse-led practice; as well as employ additional GPs, nurse practitioners, and healthcare assistants.
There are also plans for new “breakfast” and “tea-time” surgeries, with practices open as early as 7am and as late as 10pm; GPs to provide a wider range of services at the GP practice, such as direct access to medical tests and local care for diabetes, asthma and arthritis; and regular visits from nurses and GPs for nursing and residential home patients
In addition, Patricia Hewitt announced that GPs will have more power to commission services so that local healthcare reflects the need of the local community. By 2006, all PCTs will have arrangements in place to allow GPs to hold a budget for the treatment of their patients under practice-based commissioning.
