GPs Funding boost could add 138,000 more appointments

MORE than 138,000 extra GP appointments will be made available across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, if a Government funding boost aimed at modernising outdated surgeries goes to plan.

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The area will receive over £1.7 million as part of a nationwide £102 million initiative designed to upgrade more than 1,000 GP practices across England. The funding will be used to create additional clinical space, improve working conditions and boost patient care, following years of what officials described as neglect.

Specific improvements in the South West will include expanding an existing admin room into a courtyard to create a new consultation room, as well as converting vacant space into three clinical rooms and building a single-storey extension housing five additional consulting rooms.

While many GP surgeries currently have the capacity to take on more patients, a lack of suitable facilities has limited the number of appointments they can offer.