PATIENTS in south Worcestershire will have access to GP services and healthcare advice seven days a week thanks to a £2.8 million windfall.

SW Healthcare - a federation of all 31 GPs practices in the south of the county - has been awarded the funding by the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund, a £100 million pot of cash for developing innovative new ways of delivering services.

Among the projects which will be funded by the cash are an online portal and telephone number open between 8am and 9pm seven days a week as well as more evening and weekend GP appointments.

Lead GP for the organisation - which was formed last year - Dr Gemma Moore said she and her colleagues hoped the infinitives paid for by the funding would help ease the pressure on the county's under-pressure hospitals.

“We’ve got great GP services in south Worcestershire," she said.

"This opens the door to more patients, more of the time so they can get that same standard of care in new ways at new times.

“We’ll be trialling evening and weekend appointments to see a GP through hubs in key locations across the south of the county as well as piloting a virtual hub, with phone, Skype and email consultations seven days a week with a skilled team of GPs and nurses.

“Too many people are turning to A&E – we want to trial alternatives that work better for people through greater access and new technology.”

The online portal will be staffed by GPs and nurses rather than non clinically-trained call handlers, as with NHS 111, who will have access to patient's medical records so they can make an appropriate decision.

SW Healthcare's director of operations Beverley Priest said: “Whether you use your GP a lot or a little this is a real change for people in South Worcestershire.

"Our pilot takes the quality of GP services in south Worcestershire to deliver more joined up care with wider choice and rapid access to GP support.

"Over the next year, we’ll be trying out new ways to help you look after yourself and get the right care where and when you need it.”

The organisation already runs GP services at the A&E department at Worcestershire Royal Hospital as well as community hospitals and prisons in the county and recently began co-managing the area's district nursing teams.

From Wednesday, April 1 the organisation will also be running the GP surgery at the former Walk-In Health Centre in Farrier Street, Worcester.