Alan Johnson says more personalised NHS to be introduced
Sunday, 02 Mar 2008 20:16
Health secretary Alan Johnson has promised longer opening hours for GPs
Health secretary Alan Johnson has told the Labour party's spring conference in Birmingham that he hopes to introduce a more "personalised" NHS.
Mr Johnson also repeated his desire to push for longer GP treatment hours in the evenings as well as on weekends.
The health secretary told delegates today: "I hope that GPs will agree to provide extra appointments at weekends or evenings. This is not just for the benefit of commuters who struggle to see their doctor.
"When surgeries in Canary Wharf opened early in the morning their first patients where not city hot shots, but hourly paid manual workers who lost money, or worse their jobs, if they didn't go to work."
Mr Johnson told Labour members at the annual meeting that patients would no longer be "passive recipients of one-size-fits-all service" while pledging further investment in the NHS.
Yesterday, prime minister Gordon Brown addressed members of the Labour party announcing improved NHS services as well as the refurbishment of secondary schools across the country.
Local elections for 160 councils in England, all constituencies in Wales as well as elections for the London assembly and mayor of London are set to be held this May.