The national GP Patient Survey demonstrates that in all primary care trusts (PCTs) there remains a level of patient dissatisfaction in accessing general practitioner (GP) services. This year patients identified a 2 per cent. reduction in satisfaction with access to their GP. Each primary care trust will therefore benefit from the development of a new GP-led health centre that will allow any patient to access a GP from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week without having to change their normal registration with their existing practice. It will also allow more choice for patients in how they can access primary care services. We are looking to PCTs to come up with innovative solutions that meet their health care needs.
We have asked strategic health authorities to ensure that primary care trusts are guided by the principle that their plans for these new services should be in addition to any services that have already been commissioned.