A COMMITMENT by David Cameron to guarantee every NHS patient in England has access to a GP seven days a week by 2020 has been welcomed in Worcestershire.

But chairman of patient watchdog Healthwatch Worcestershire Peter Pinfield said he hoped the plans could be brought in sooner.

The Prime Minister announced the plans – which he said would be introduced if his party wins power in next year’s election – at the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham today.

But, although Mr Pinfield welcomed the announcement – expected to cost about £400 million over the next five years – he said he hoped the measures could be introduced sooner than 2020.

“Although we are in conference season and politicians of all political persuasions are out to please, any move to improve health and care services is welcomed,” he said.

“The way that can be achieved is to press on with the plans for the total integration of health and social care under the Well Connected pioneer project.

“Here in Worcestershire we can give patients, carers and service users a much more improved, safe and quality-driven experience, but we must involve them in the process and give them ownership of these changes.”

The Well Connected scheme is one of 14 across the country piloting ways of bringing the NHS, county council, patient groups and other bodies together.

Mr Cameron also committed an extra £100 million investment into the project and unveiled plans to bring back named GPs with responsibility for individual patients.

Worcester MP Robin Walker also welcomed the plans, saying changes introduced by the previous Labour government which allowed GPs to opt out of providing out-of-hours care had been damaging.

“I think it’s right for the government to set out to make this right,” he said.

“But we can’t just renege on previous deals made with GPs.

“I hope the new funding will be available in Worcestershire as soon as possible.”

Speaking today Mr Cameron said funding for the plans was being made available from spending cuts elsewhere.

“You can't fund the NHS if you don't have a healthy, growing economy,” he said.

"This will help secure a better future for Britain, where people can be confident that when they or their loved ones need it, our NHS will be there for them."

But shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the coalition government had made it harder rather than easier for patients to get a GP appointment.

“People are left ringing the surgery early in the morning only to be told nothing is available for days,” he said.

"The next Labour government will guarantee a GP appointment within 48 hours or a same-day consultation with a doctor or nurse for those who need it."