A NEW contract – the first of its kind in the country – means all GP practices in Bolton will have to stay open between 8am and 6.30pm.

By ending traditional lunchtime and half-day closing, there will be an extra 61,000 appointments available every year for patients in the borough.

The changes are part of a ‘quality contract’ between NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the borough’s GP surgeries which came into force on April 1.

Aiming at bringing all practices across Bolton up to the same standard, the agreement also means children under 12 will be guaranteed a same-day assessment by a clinician.

Patients will also be able to book appointments a month in advance, and will have guaranteed access to both male and female clinicians.

Dr Stephen Liversedge, clinical director for primary care and health improvement at Bolton CCG, said: “Developing and investing in our GP practices is essential to improving care for the people of Bolton.

“This contract will ensure that local people can see a GP when they need to, and will prevent unnecessary journeys to hospital.

“By ensuring that NHS funds are being spent in the right areas by eliminating waste, it also aims to free up money which can be spent on more patient services.”

GPs must now conduct regular health checks on patients and improve cancer-screening rates, treatment of long-term conditions such as diabetes and asthma, and mental health care.

It is hoped the quality contract will also eliminate prescription waste and reduce hospital attendances.

Practices have already put plans in place to meet the contract’s standards – mostly through increased staffing, and hiring more administrative support.

Health bosses anticipate £3.4 million will be spent in primary care during the contract’s first year.

However, the targets agreed to in the contract should lead to a reduction in spending of £3.78 million – meaning the CCG’s net saving will be just less than £400,000.

Prime Minister David Cameron made a pledge at his party's recent conference that a Conservative government would ensure patients across England would have full access to hospital services seven days a week by the end of the parliament in 2020.