North East GP Surgeries to Receive Investment to Increase Capacity by More Than Two Million Appointments

GP practices across the North East and Yorkshire are set to benefit from new capital investment aimed at expanding and modernising primary care facilities, creating capacity for more than two million additional patient appointments.

The funding forms part of the Government’s new 10 Year Capital Plan for Health and Social Care, which includes £200 million to help GP practices across England improve their premises. The investment will enable practices to convert unused space into additional consulting and treatment rooms, modernise existing buildings and redesign layouts to make better use of available space.

The improvements are intended to help GP practices see more patients, improve access to appointments and reduce pressure on hospital services by expanding care closer to home.

Examples of projects already benefiting from the funding in the North East and Yorkshire include:

• Coxhoe Medical Practice, County Durham, where an underused reception area has been converted into two new clinical rooms, creating capacity for an estimated 14,200 additional appointments.
• Thorner Surgery, Leeds, where a former first-floor flat has been transformed into three new rooms, providing extra clinical space, administration facilities and an expanded dispensary, creating capacity for around 6,760 additional appointments.

According to NHS England, similar projects will be delivered across the region, with the combined investment expected to create capacity for more than two million additional GP appointments over time.

The wider capital plan also includes investment to rebuild NHS facilities, replace ageing equipment and improve healthcare infrastructure across England. Alongside these wider improvements, the GP surgery upgrades are intended to strengthen community-based healthcare by enabling more patients to receive care in modern, appropriately equipped local practices.

For patients, the investment is expected to improve access to appointments and create more space for GP teams to deliver consultations and treatment closer to where people live.