£500k Development Boost for GP practices
16/1/2003
GP practices across West Gloucestershire are set to benefit from a share in a healthy £500,000 cash boost to modernise and improve patient access to services.
The news follows West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust's public board meeting today (Thursday) where members endorsed the funding allocation and praised family doctors and their staff for producing comprehensive business and development plans.
Over half of the development cash will be spent on improving access to services such as recruiting additional practice nurses and reception staff and substantial sums will be spent on improving practice premises, upgrading facilities for disabled patients and security.
Chief Executive of West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust, Stephen Golledge said:
"Improving access to local GP surgeries is one of our highest priorities for this year and this funding boost will help practices to achieve this. We know that we have a long way to go and whilst we have good access to primary care services in West Gloucestershire, these funds will help practices in their efforts to focus strongly on improving patient choice and making services available when and where patients need them."
The PCT is aiming to meet challenging national targets ensuring that every patient can access a Family Doctor within 48 hours and a primary care professional (such as a practice nurse or health care assistant) within 24 hours by April 2004.
Stephen Golledge added:
"The Primary Care Trust is placing an emphasis on moving beyond traditional ways of working and looking at how it can support practices in reaching their full potential by making better use of the skills within their teams which includes practice nurses and health care assistants as well as Family Doctors".
The Primary Care Trust conducted a Patient Access Survey in December 2002, which showed that 88% of practices in West Gloucestershire were able to offer an appointment to see a GP within 48 hours and 97% of practices were able to offer an opportunity to see a healthcare professional within 24 hours.
