Supermarket starts store GP pilot

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The first doctors' surgery to be run from a supermarket in England is opening as part of a six-month pilot.

NHS patients in north Manchester who cannot secure a GP appointment beyond 1800 GMT can now see a doctor at a Sainsbury's in Blackley.

The store is running the extended hours medical centre on two evenings a week, and on Saturdays.

Last year, the government said shops could bid to run GP surgeries in a drive to improve access to care.

The surgery, staffed by local doctors working in addition to their regular hours, is being run out of a pharmacy consulting room at the Sainsbury's near Heaton Park.

It is part of a £126,000 pilot by the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust.

Ground-breaking

The NHS trust wants to explore provide extended-hours medical care for people who find it difficult to attend normal surgery times because of work or family commitments.

Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King said: "This is a ground-breaking partnership that supports the government's wider aims to make healthcare more accessible.

"As a major retailer, at the centre of many communities, we are in a good position to contribute to this objective by offering GPs and their patients a convenient, safe and secure location for the provision of routine care."

The Sainsbury's surgery will run appointments, between 1830 GMT and 2130 GMT on Monday and Thursday, as well as 1100 GMT to 1500 GMT on Saturdays.

Patients can book through their registered GP practice.

Dr Mohammed Jiva, whose Doctors in Store firm runs the surgery, said: "Patients' needs are changing and so it's important that we find ways to provide a more flexible and convenient service.

"A number of practices in the local area have already come on board and once demand increases, we will explore the potential to roll this out to even further across the whole of Rochdale."