Black Country GP surgeries set to benefit from nationwide investment

NHS patients in the Black Country are in line to benefit from more than 180,000 more GP appointments each year as over 1,000 doctors surgeries in England receive an upgrade to modernise practices.

Backed by a government major cash injection of over £102 million, the surgeries will receive  funding to create additional space to see more patients, boost productivity and improve patient care.

It will include creating additional consulting rooms and installing lifts to unlock access to first floor spaces and increase appointment capacity without needing to expand the building. 

The money represents the biggest investment in GP facilities in five years and is part of a Plan for Change pledge by the government to invest £26 billion into the NHS and shift care out of the hospital and into the community.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: “It will be a long road, but this government is putting in the work to fix our NHS and make it fit for the future.

“These are simple fixes for our GP surgeries but for too long they were left to ruin, allowing waiting lists to build and stopping doctors treating more patients.

"The extra investment and reform this government is making,  will transform our NHS so it can once again be there for you when you need it.”

A recent independent report form Lord Ara Darzi found outdated, inefficient buildings create barriers to delivering high-quality patient care and reduce staff productivity.

 He said: “My review found that the primary care estate is simply not fit for purpose, with many GP surgeries housed in inflexible, outdated buildings that cannot enable safe, high-quality care. 

"This investment marks a crucial turning point in addressing this long-standing issue, helping create the modern, purpose-built primary care facilities that patients and staff deserve."

 Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, said:   “We know more needs to be done to improve patient access to general practice and this investment in over one thousand primary care premises will help do this.

“Bringing GP premises up to a similar condition across England is important to improve patient experience of NHS services, while making primary care a better working environment as we seek to retain and recruit more staff.  

“It will also help to create additional space and extend the capacity of current premises as we improve access further and bring care closer to the communities where people live as part of the 10 Year Health Plan.”