PATIENTS in Derwentside have seen a 60 per cent cut in the time they have to wait for a routine GP appointment over the past three years, according to health officials.

It means the average wait for an appointment across the Primary Care Trust (PCT) is less than two days.

Four of the GP practices have been working with the PCT since last September on a project with the National Primary Care Collaborative, aimed at improving access to primary care professionals for patients.

The practices also have reduced their combined average waiting time for a GP appointment.