New GP opening hours and personalised care plans revealed

The government has lifted the curtain on new plans to extend GP opening hours and provide enhanced care for the elderly through personalised healthcare plans.

Under the new proposals, around 50 million pounds from the GP Access Fund will help 1,147 practices to offer increased access to services, including seven-day opening times and 08:00 to 20:00 appointments.

Greater use of Skype, email and phone consultations will also be made available for patients who would find it easier to speak to their doctors this way.

Meanwhile, the personalised care plans will be extended to around 800,000 people with the most complex needs, mostly aged over 75, and will encompass regularly-reviewed individual care plans, a named GP responsible for treatment strategies and same-day access to GPs.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "Many doctors already give great care but I want to make sure this is completely coordinated to head off problems and keep people from going to hospital unnecessarily."

This comes after the government pledged to revive the old-fashioned family doctor system last year.