Sainsbury's shoppers could go for check-up before check-out

Shoppers at J Sainsbury could soon see their doctors at the same time as doing their weekly shopping if plans to trial GP surgeries in its stores are a success. The supermarket chain is talking to the Government about how it can help increase access to healthcare.

It plans to open a prototype surgery in just one of its stores initially but ultimately sees scope to extend the move to all 161 of its stores that have pharmacies.

The initiative by Sainsbury's follows last month's White Paper from the Government, which saw Patricia Hewitt, the Secretary of State for Health, promise to bring "healthcare to the doorstep".

The Government's vision revolves around making it easier for patients to visit doctors by allowing them to register at convenient practices rather just those near to where they live.

Justin King, Sainsbury's chief executive, has already met Caroline Flint, the health minister, and further talks with officials from the Department of Health are scheduled for next week.

The supermarket chain is keen to position itself as a champion of healthy eating and recently introduced an apple symbol to help shoppers identify which products are good for them. It would not put GPs, who tend to be self-employed, on its payroll.

Boots is also working on similar plans, although Sainsbury's arch rivals, Tesco and Wal-Mart's Asda, yesterday both distanced themselves from following suit.

Asda already runs a drop-in medical centre in a store in Bournemouth, which it opened in response to customer demand. It has talked with local health authorities in Grimsby and Eastlands, Manchester, about offering a similar service but opted not to.

A spokesman for the chain said it seek talks with the Government about the issue but, in the meantime, would prefer to focus on opening more pharmacies. It has 90 pharmacies across its 300 stores and sees scope for a further 40.

Tesco said it had "no plans" for either GP surgeries or walk-in centres.