Patients will soon be able to choose GPs outside of their catchment area, if plans put forward today by the UK Health Minister go ahead.

The UK Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, has announced plans to scrap GP catchment areas, in an effort to improve patient standards and access.

Currently, most doctors only see patients within a certain radius of the surgery. The plans, due to be implemented within 12 months, will mean that patients will soon be able to choose which surgery they go to, regardless of where they live.

Mr Burnham said in a speech today (Thursday): “In this day and age I can see no reason why patients should not be able to choose the GP practice they want. Many of us lead hectic lives and health services should be there to make things easier.

“A busy mum needs flexibility – she may want to register at a practice near her children’s school. Equally, a commuter may want to register near to work. I want them to be able to do this whilst ensuring that access to home visits won’t be affected, wherever someone ends up registering.”

Although the plans have many supporters, some organisations have raised questions regarding the practicalities. Laurence Buckman, Chair of the British Medical Association’s GP Committee, described the proposal as “terribly complicated” when he spoke on the BBC’s Today programme:

“I’ve been talking about this for 13 years with different governments and we’re certainly not against the idea but it is so complicated as most of our lives operate in areas.

“Who would visit you at home if you were sick? Services, such as mental health and physiotherapy, operate in quite rigid areas – how would you access services in another city or part of town?”

Under the scheme, surgeries will compete with one another for patients, and will therefore, in effect, offer the best service possible, as those with the most patients will be able to excel and expand. In contrast, underperforming surgeries will lose patients and risk closing down.