A RAFT of proposals aimed at improving GP services for a Derwentside community have been endorsed by councillors.

The recommendations for the new Stanley Health Centre, which are at the early stages of discussion, include recruiting more doctors and nurses and reorganising the service to provide better access and choice.

The Derwentside Primary Care Trust has already appointed two new GPs to begin working in October and a further three advanced practitioners or 'Super Nurses' to supplement two taken on earlier this year.

The health scrutiny committees of both Derwentside District Council and Durham County Council have endorsed the plans for the new Stanley Health Centre - the site of which has yet to be decided. But members of both committees urged the Trust to ensure they consult fully with patients before implementing any changes - a commitment the PCT has given.

At present the area has six GP practices working from shared areas within the Stanley Health Centre. All, except one, are run as branch surgeries with their main surgeries in surrounding areas of Craghead, Burnopfield, Annfield Plain and Dipton.

In a report to the committees, Derwentside PCT chief executive Wynn Griffiths said each practice had identified problems of 'grossly inadequate space' aggravated by limited sharing of clinical facilities.

He added the inevitable split site in all practices working in the Stanley Health Centre resulted in fragmentation of care for patients and a poor use of doctors and nursing time. The Trust is proposing to reconfigure GP services over the next three years for when the new Stanley Health Centre becomes operational.

This would reduce split site working of existing GPs and nurses, increase the recruitment and retention of GPs and nurses into the centre and surrounding area.

Among the immediate changes recommended are the withdrawal of Dr Rashid Dhuny's three sessions at Stanley allowing him to concentrate in Craghead. This will create space for a further 17 sessions for Stanley GPs.

District councillor Janet Greener said: "The proposals will mean more choice for patients and enable doctors to visit them as well.

"GPs will also have the backing of supernurses who will be able to step in and help when they are not there."