PATIENTS in Sedgefield borough will soon be able to see their GP much quicker.

Four GP practices have been working with Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) on an initiative aimed at improving access to primary care professionals.

The practices involved are Dr Baliga, in Shildon, the Spennymoor-based Jubilee Medical Group, Dr Walton and Partners from Shildon, and Dr Jones and Partners, which has practices in Sedgefield, Fishburn, Bishop Middleham and the Trimdons.

Each practice has been working closely with Dawn Wilson, newly appointed access facilitator for the PCT, on introducing new systems to help patients access services. They looked at how their practice booking systems work and how they could be improved.

Some of the new services include telephone consultations between doctors and their patients and a collection service for repeat prescriptions from the pharmacist.

Dr Baliga's practice also now offers the services of a Citizens' Advice worker.

The project will help reduce waiting times and ensure that patients see the most appropriate health care professional, which may not be a GP but a member of the nursing team. Nursing teams at the practices have also taken on new roles previously provided by GPs, allowing doctors to develop specialist interests.

Ms Wilson said: "The four practices I have been working with have already achieved significant improvements to their services in just a few months.

"Waiting times for an appointment to see a doctor or a nurse have improved in all four practices and two now offer patients and appointment on the day they request it."

A random sample of patients in the Sedgefield area showed that 86.6 per cent had been offered an appointment on the day of their choice.

PCT chief executive Nigel Porter said the trust had invested an additional £900,000 this year to give patients quicker access to GPs.

He added: "The success of these practices will be shared with others in Sedgefield borough so that in future we can guarantee all patients will have access to a GP within 48 hours and with a primary care professional within 24 hours."