GP surgeries across county to expand and modernise

Nine surgeries in Oxfordshire have received the funding

Nine GP surgeries in Oxfordshire are set to undergo improvement works as part of a £100m government scheme.

The Westminster funding is being provided to expand and modernise surgeries across England, with work due to get underway this summer.

Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) said the investment would create 220,000 new appointments across its region annually.

Former government minister and Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds said the measures were a "key part of delivering" on Labour's promise to "fix" the NHS.

In Oxford, Donnington, Summertown, Cuttslowe Health Centres and Hedena Health at Bury Knowle Health Centre will all benefit from the investment.

"Labour promised to fix the front door to our NHS, shift care from hospitals back into the community, and focus on prevention and early intervention," Dodds said.

"I will keep pushing for long-term investment in our NHS across Oxford and the UK."

Anneliese Dodds is the Labour MP for Oxford East

Bloxham and Hook Norton surgery, Kidlington Health Centre, Woodstock Surgery, Hightown Surgery in Banbury and Langford Medical Practice in Bicester will also receive funding.

In total 21 surgeries across the region managed by BOB ICB will undergo work, which it said equated to roughly £2.8m of funding.

Dr Abid Irfan, the board's director of primary care, said the investment would "ensure patients get better access to GP care".

"We are delighted to receive this funding to help those GP surgeries make better use of existing space to create new consultation and treatment rooms," he added.

Announcing the nationwide scheme last week, the government said it was the biggest public investment in facilities for five years.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting called it a "significant step", but warned it would not solve all existing problems overnight.