HEALTH chiefs say new guidelines for local GP surgeries will provide better care for patients and more job satisfaction for doctors.

Proposals for a new contract guiding GP practices on how to deliver primary care in South Worcestershire have been agreed and are going out to consultation.

Last March your Worcester News reported how South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)had become one of the first in the country to be handed responsibility for planning and arranging GP services - effectively giving patients and doctors in the county a greater say in how GP services are run. GP services were previously commissioned by NHS England.

The Primary Care Commissioning Committee was established by the CCG and has been working towards setting up a new contract with GP surgeries, which will run for a year from April.

At the group's latest meeting, held at Perdiswell Young People's Centre on Thursday, (February 11), Lynda Dando, associate director for primary care quality and development, gave a presentation on the proposals.

They feature plans to do more work in identifying and supporting people pre-diabetes, giving help to people with asthma, and in stroke prevention work.

The plans also feature a commitment to continue to support surgeries to work together to deliver services, and test any new ways of working or delivering services through pilot schemes.

She said the plans would provide better care for patients, as well as greater job satisfaction for doctors - as it would ensure better use of their skills.

Trish Haines, the committee's chairman, said: "I think this is absolutely the right thing to be doing for our patients.

"We are ahead of the curve on this."

She added that although it was voluntary, it is hoped practices will sign up after being involved in the consultation.

Members of the committee unanimously supported the contract's proposals.

The plans will now go out to consultation for the next four weeks, with the committee considering any recommended changes from the feedback at its next meeting, being held in March.