UK
Injection of GPs and nurses to tackle inequalities in primary care services
By DH, UK
Mar 30, 2005, 18:33

NHS patients will get better access to a GP with new plans to make it easier for go-getting family doctors to expand services, Health Secretary John Reid announced today. The programme will provide additional GPs and primary care professionals to treat patients in areas where there is limited GP availability. The first new GPs could be in place by 2006.

The programme could see the opening of new GP practices in areas where there is a need, as well as help support existing practices. Patients in areas where there is limited GP availability should find it easier to register with a doctor.

It is also expected that the programme will deliver new services for patients at their local practice, such as direct access to medical tests and local care for diabetes, asthma and arthritis, which have traditionally only been available in hospital.

The programme could also deliver new radiographers, physiotherapists and community nurses to enable the NHS to deliver the wider range of services locally.

The programme will build on the recent significant improvements to family doctor and local healthcare services, including:

* All patients can now expect to see a GP within just two working days, compared to just half of patients in 1997.
* Primary care buildings have also benefitted from a �900 million investment since 2000, including over 2,850 refurbished GP premises and 510 new one-stop primary care centres.
* Patients can now also choose to receive treatment from 63 NHS Walk-in Centres, which offer a service from early in the morning to late at night, with no need for appointment. A further 26 are being developed, including seven focused on meeting the health needs of commuters.

Opening a new NHS walk-in centre in Ilford, North East London, Health Secretary John Reid said:

�The NHS is achieving historic improvements in patient care. Nowhere is this progress more evident than with the local family doctor service.

�We are already seeing faster access, more doctors, better premises and broader choice � thanks to significant increases in funding and changes to the way care is delivered.

�But it is vital that our family doctors remain at the forefront of change and innovation. Giving go-ahead GPs new freedoms not only allow us to get the basics right by providing equal access to a GP for all patients, it will also help deliver a wider range of services right on patients� doorsteps.

�These changes will improve the health and well-being of every patient using the NHS and will strengthen the role of primary care itself.�

Dr Michael Dixon, NHS Alliance chairman, said:

"Inequalities in the numbers of GPs across the country often mean that places with the greatest need have the lowest number of doctors. Every patient should have access to a GP when they need one. This initiative will ensure that is possible, especially in deprived areas that are currently under-doctored."

Dr Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

"We welcome all initiatives to increase capacity and staff numbers in primary care and we are heartened that 40 primary care trusts have already been involved in shaping this new procurement programme.

"It is important to ensure that PCTs remain in the driving seat of primary care improvements because they have the knowledge and expertise to know what action is required to meet the particular needs of their own local communities."

Entrepreneurial GPs, as well as other healthcare providers, will be invited to work with the NHS to provide the increases in GPs. Over 40 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) across England have already expressed an interest in taking part in the programme.

The Department of Health will support a number of PCTs working together to lead a managed approach to procurement. PCTs would fund the service costs, with the department contributing some financial support to help with start-up costs. Invitations to tender are expected to be issued in autumn 2005.

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