Johnson opens first GP health centre

Health Secretary Alan Johnson today opened the first GP health centre in England which will help people access medical care when they need it.

The Minister met staff and patients at the Hillside Bridge Health Care Centre, in Bradford, West Yorkshire and toured the facilities.

The centre will offer a range of services including care for people with diabetes and asthma, sexual health services, minor surgery, vaccinations and immunisations and health and wellbeing clinics.

It is one of 152 new GP health centres opening across England that will see patients from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, as part of a Government programme to increase access to family doctor services.

Any member of the public will be able to use the additional services provided by these health centres, while staying registered with their local family doctor.

The centres will provide a minimum of 2.6 million extra GP appointments a year.

Mr Johnson said: "Patients leading busy lives tell us that access to GP services is a real issue for them, and they want to be able to see a doctor at times that are convenient for them whether it is in the evenings, at weekends or when they are away from home."

He continued: "Health centres like this one and others opening around the country are an addition to and complement existing GP services, providing more capacity in primary care and offering patients greater choice and flexibility - they will be open from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year."

Pam James, chairwoman of the People's Health Forum in Bradford, said: "This is a really positive step for the city and means anyone can now access medical care when they need it, whether they are registered or not."

She continued: "This area of Bradford has long been short of doctors and this new service will help the local communities as well as those from a wider field. The People's Health Forum congratulate the Bradford and Airedale PCT for their foresight in planning, developing and delivering such a valuable service."

The new health centres are part of £250 million extra investment in primary care announced last year which also includes setting up 112 new GP practices in parts of the country that have fewer GPs and greater health challenges.

This forms part of a wider programme to improve access to GP services, including action to ensure a greater number of GP practices offer early morning, evening or weekend appointments.