22 October 2004
Doctors have urged the government to redouble its efforts to improve GP premises after the Department of Health admitted 700 practices failed to meet its standards.
In a parliamentary written answer this week, health minister John Hutton revealed figures for 2002/03, which showed that 700 surgeries in England did not measure up in areas such as the comfort of waiting rooms, ease of access and the quality of equipment used to treat patients.
Hutton insisted that only around 7% of premises did not come up to scratch. The government was using public and private funding to improve GP surgeries and it was likely the figures had improved in the last year, he added.
The British Medical Association said: 'Further investment is needed. We would urge the government to redouble its efforts to ensure that premises funding is adequate.'
PFoct2004
