Johnson announces GP surgery boost

Patients in 12 areas around England will be able to visit a GP at evenings and weekends under government plans for new practices.

Health secretary Alan Johnson is announcing plans to give 12 primacy care trusts more than £1.1m by 2010/11, their share of a £250m access fund announced last year to pay for at least 100 new practices.

There will also be £105m invested in existing GP practices to expand clinical services and improve access for patients.

GPs agreed to extend opening hours in March after a bitter wrangle with the government.

Johnson said: "There has been some recent scaremongering about the future of GP practices.

"Today's announcement shows that we are not only committed to Britain's excellent family doctor system, but also to expanding it, encouraging GPs to provide more services, closer to where people live, so they don't have to make so many unnecessary trips to hospital.

"Improving access to primary care is also a key priority if we are to deliver more personalised care that meets the needs of individuals and communities, especially those in more disadvantaged or deprived areas."

The first new practices are expected to open in less than a year's time.