Longer surgery hours in £20m Sandwell GP overhaul

Practices will also offer a wider range of services so patients, who may currently have to travel further afield, can get more care closer to home.

Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG is carrying out a review and plans to invest £20m over the next three years to make improvements.

As well as providing more services such as diabetes care and support for carers at GP surgeries rather than hospitals, other improvements could include offering people the option to book appointments online. Health chiefs also want to improve access to surgeries such as longer opening hours and providing more urgent appointment slots.

Chairman Nick Harding said he was keen reduce the variation between the 100 practices in the Sandwell and West Birmingham area.

"Over the next three years we plan to invest £20million into a primary care development scheme," he said.

"We know from listening to patients and local GPs that there is variation amongst practices, with different opening times and services provided.

"All practices will be able to sign up to this development scheme, which we hope will improve access, experience and quality of care for all patients.

"There are no changes planned to the core service that every patient has the right to expect from their GP practice, instead we are building on standard services to offer enhanced care including consistent opening times, greater support for carers and additional services through the GP practice, for example diabetes care.

A consultation is currently taking place with patients and staff being asked for feedback on existing services and suggestions for improvements, which will start being introduced later this year.

"We are currently working with our practices to design the scheme, which we hope to launch later this year.

"This is the single biggest investment we have made into primary care so far as an organisation, and really believe this will help deliver consistent and quality care for our patients.

"This scheme is just one of the ways we are working to improve GP services locally and over the next few months we are developing our five year strategy for primary care services.

"We are encouraging local people to share their views on GP services, including what works well and what can be improved. "This feedback will help us identify potential improvements, so we can build a better service for the future," added Dr Harding.

A consultation event will take place at 6pm on Thursday at Elim Church in Victoria Street, West Bromwich.