Eastern Cheshire doubles investment in general practice

It will invest £2m on top of the £2.6m it already invests in GP services, which the CCG says will deliver fair funding across the area’s 22 GP practices.

The CCG said it hopes the money will improve access for patients and reduce avoidable hospital admisions.

The CCG is now working with its practices to finalise the list of value added services to be provided as part of the new GP contract, which is due to go live from December.

NHS England, which currently commissions most services provided by general practices, will transfer £1.1m that was previously invested in 12 of the 22 general practices in Eastern Cheshire to the local commissioner for reinvestment. This follows the national review of personal medical services contracts with GP practices.

Examples of the new services and facilities that will be available to all patients include:

• obesity management clinics;
• advice and support to stop people developing diabetes;
• services for people with long term conditions, including serious breathing problems; and
• prostate cancer diagnosis.

The CCG’s chief officer, Jerry Hawker, said: “This major new investment into services provided by GP practices will help achieve the ambitions of our Caring Together transformation programme.

“These new services will help stop people falling ill and will support people with long-term conditions to live healthy, independent lives.”