Making it easier to see your doctor or other health professional
NHS North West has embarked on a major project to ensure that you can get to see your GP at times that are more convenient for you, including evenings and weekends. That there are more family doctors in areas which have a shortage; and that more health centres are available across the North West.
The programme, called Equitable Access to Primary Care, is providing an extra £250 million across the country, which primary care trusts are using to develop better local health services.
Extending GP opening hours: The public has been clear that its number one priority in improving the NHS is to have access to GPs at more convenient times like evenings and weekends. So PCTs are now working with GPs to agree arrangements that meet the needs of local people. Work is under way to make sure all doctors’ surgeries offer extended hours by the end of 2009.
New health centres and GP practices: New GP practices are to be set up in under-doctored areas and in addition GP-led health centres are to be built in every PCT area. In the North West this means 37 new GP practices plus 24 new GP-led health centres with walk-in services.
- Greater Manchester The 10 PCTs will each have a new health centre and the area will see the opening of 19 new GP practices
- Cumbria and Lancashire The six PCTs will each have a new health centre and the area will see the opening of nine new GP practices
- Merseyside and Cheshire The eight PCTs will each have a new health centre and the area will see the opening of nine new GP practices
The focus of the programme is to achieve the vision of a fair and personalised NHS with safe and effective primary care services.
Further improvements in the quality of primary care services are planned. Find out more about the team behind Equitable Access Programme.
The national picture:
For more information on the national Equitable Access programme; view the Department of Health website.