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150 new health centres to open 7 days a week
Amy Iggulden, Evening Standard4 Oct 2007
Millions of patients will find it easier to see a GP under plans unveiled today.
Gordon Brown announced a sweeping package of measures to overhaul access to family doctors and screen every NHS patient for superbugs.
In a surprise move, the Prime Minister said half of all GP practices need to open on Saturday mornings or one or more evenings each week.
More than 100 new practices will be created in areas where there are gaps and 150 new health centres should open seven days a week, from 8am to 8pm.
All patients admitted to hospital should be checked for the deadly superbug MRSA, thought to affect one in 10 patients.
The raft of announcements will be seen as another indication that an election is imminent. They came in a review of the NHS by health minister Lord Darzi, which has been brought forward by two weeks amid speculation that Mr Brown is clearing the decks for a poll.
Many of the 100 new GP practices, which will include up to 900 doctors, nurses and health assistants, will be in London as areas such as Barking and Dagenham have some of the biggest gaps in GP cover.
At the Albert Embankment launch of the report, the Prime Minister said his "immediate priority" was to renew the NHS as it approaches its 60th anniversary next year.
"We want not just to celebrate the NHS but to renew it. We will guarantee far better access to primary care."
Mr Brown was joined on the platform by Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Lord Darzi, who laid out their plans to 72 doctors and nurses who are tasked with creating a "world class" NHS. Lord Darzi, also a pioneering surgeon, was asked to carry out a nationwide review of the NHS in July.
The interim report released today sets out the plans to improve GP access and tackle superbugs.
After three months touring the country, Lord Darzi's report said patients "lacked clout" and that staff felt ignored and untrusted.
"Patients have told me that they still sometimes feel like a number rather than a person. They do not know how to access the services they need to help them stay well and independent."
Lord Darzi has already outlined a blueprint for radical changes in London including new polyclinics instead of GP surgeries.
Plans were also announced today for a £100 million innovation fund to close the time gap between medical breakthroughs and patient benefits.
WHAT THE NEW MEASURES INCLUDE
GP access
More than 100 new GP practices to open on Saturday morning and one evening a week to deal with demands in areas of poorest provision including areas in London such as Barking and Dagenham which are in the worst quarter of the country for GP cover.
A total of 900 GPs, nurses and health assistants will be involved in the scheme to target illness at its earliest stage.
It is yet unknown how much money will be spent on the plans.
Superbugs
MRSA screenings to be introduced for all elective admissions next year and emergency patients within three years. Three thousand new matrons given powers to report infection directly to health watchdog.
There will also be annual infection control inspections of all acute trusts.
Health centres
New resources provided for primary care trust to set up 150 GP run health centres open seven days a week 8am-8pm. These may be similar to the polyclinics planned for London, with up to 25 GPs but final names have not been decided.
New GP advisory board created, including London GP Dr Sam Everington, to further improve access. Information about GP services also to be included on NHS Choices website (www.nhs.uk)
"World Class NHS"
More than 70 doctors and nurses across Britain will design new NHS structures, following on from the London blueprint which called for 150 super surgeries instead of traditional GPs. They will look at eight key issues affecting different stages of life, from maternity to children and care of the dying. They will issue a report next year.
