DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (2007/0335) issued by The Government News Network on
Health Secretary
Alan Johnson today drove forward plans to tackle long-standing
inequalities in family doctor provision by announcing the
under-doctored areas in England that will benefit from new GP practices.
In a speech to the NHS Alliance conference in Manchester the
Health Secretary announced 38 primary care trusts (PCTs) who have
been identified as having the poorest GP provision and will be the
first to benefit from plans to deliver 100 new GP practices over
the next three years.
Areas with the fewest GPs have worst health outcomes and greater
deprivation. The gaps in provision can be as much as 43 GPs per
100,000 people compared with 88 GPs in other areas.
The new practices announced today will increase capacity in
places that need it most and offer a range of innovative services,
such as extended opening hours and extended practice boundaries,
as well as increasing patient choice.
PCTs based in the North West, North East, West Midlands, London
and East of England Strategic Health Authorities are among those
who will benefit the most.
Alan Johnson said:
"Improving access to primary care is a key priority if we
are to deliver more personalised care that meets the needs of
individuals and communities, especially those in more
disadvantaged or deprived areas.
"Evidence shows there is a direct link between low numbers
of GP surgeries and poor health within a community. That is why we
are increasing the number of family doctors services in these areas.
"This is not just about building extra primary care capacity
but developing high-quality, responsive services with a strong
focus on prevention. This is a great opportunity for
entrepreneurial GPs as well as social enterprises and the
independent sector to develop innovative services for patients."
The first practices are expected to open to patients in a
year's time and will be funded from the £250 million access
fund announced last month. The access fund will also provide at
least 150 GP-led health centres across the country.
Relevant PCTs will now work with clinicians and the public to
develop patient services that reflect local needs and then look to
potential providers to come forward with innovative proposals.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The full list of PCTs are: Manchester, Barking and Dagenham,
Knowsley, Sandwell,Wolverhampton City, Heywood, Middleton and
Rochdale, Liverpool, Sunderland Teaching, Birmingham East and
North, Halton and St Helens, Heart of Birmingham Teaching,
Barnsley, Leicester City, Oldham, Blackburn with Darwen, Stoke on
Trent, Hounslow, Hull, Nottingham City, Blackpool, Ashton, Leigh
and Wigan, Dudley, Bolton, Greenwich Teaching, Sefton, Medway
Teaching, Salford, Hartlepool, Tameside and Glossop, Walsall
Teaching, Newcastle, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside,
Calderdale, North Lancashire, Luton Teaching, Havering and
Hammersmith and Fulham.
2. The Department of Health will hold a national conference on
Thursday 13 Dec in London for commissioners and providers to
discuss advancing plans for increased numbers of GP surgeries and
GP led health centres.