PLANS to include access to doctors at a pioneering health centre in Darlington have been unveiled.

Darlington Primary Care Trust say their proposals to include access to doctors at Doctor Piper House walk-in centre, which has treated 500,000 people in three years, would herald a significant boost to patient care.

Public views will be taken into account during a 16-week consultation period.

At a public meeting held at Darlington Arts Centre, PCT non-executive director Melanie Pears said: "This health centre would be in addition to existing GP services and we are very keen that they are the very best services we can provide for the people of Darlington."

The PCT's chief executive, Colin Morris, said that the health service was in the best condition it had been for many years thanks to a lot of hard work over the past decade.

He said: "We have a tremendous amount to be proud of, but we mustn't be complacent. There are still areas we can improve and expectations are high.

"The latest proposals are about adding to - not reducing - existing services."

The £2m walk-in centre, which is one of the few nurse-led centres in the country, opened in January 2005 to treat minor injuries and ailments and support the town's 11 GP surgeries, out-of-hours service and the hospital's accident and emergency department. Now health officials are planning to extend services to include doctors as part of a Government move to provide a GP-led health centre in every PCT area.

The centre would provide:

* Health facilities in the town centre seven days a week, from 8am until 8pm

* Appointments and walk-in care

* Treatment for registered or non-registered patients

* Smoking cessation services

* Weight management

* Children and young people's services

* Improved access for people with mental health issues and learning disabilities

* Expanded specialist and outreach health services.

The consultation ends on August 4 and tenders will be invited from August 26. The contract will be awarded in December and the service would start in the new year.

11:36am Thursday 3rd July 2008

Print

Email this