Simon Hughes met staff at a health centre in Peckham to hear how new funding has improved their opening hours.
Mr Hughes met with NHS health commissioners and staff at Lister Primary Care centre in Peckham Road, which acts as a hub for GP surgeries in the south of Southwark.
Southwark was awarded nearly £1m last year in the first wave of funding from the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund, which seeks to improve patient access to local GP services.
As part of the scheme, the Peckham health centre has made sure a GP or practice nurse is available from 8am-8pm, seven days a week.
During the visit, Dr Sian Howell told Mr Hughes that there were now many more appointments available in Southwark for people who needed to see a GP urgently, including in the evening and at weekends.
Patients should continue to contact to their usual GP practice in the first instance, who can help them get an appointment at the service if they need one. From yesterday, Wednesday April 1, the scheme will be extended to people registered with GP surgeries in the north of the borough, operating from Bermondsey Spa Health Centre.
by Ira Lorandos