A SUPER-SURGERY offering GP and dental service to unregistered patients 365 days a year is set to open in Basingstoke.

The new Hampshire Health Care Centre in the grounds of Basingstoke hospital, scheduled to open this autumn, is being commissioned to increase out-of-hours access and it will open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week.

Health chiefs also hope to relieve pressure from the accident and emergency department by treating minor illnesses and injuries.

Hampshire Health – a team of 13 North Hampshire GP practices – has joined with a private healthcare firm Assura and Basingstoke dentist Dr Anushika Sharma to run the new centre.

Dr Christian Chilcott, a board member of Hampshire Health and partner from Oakley and Overton Surgery, said the doctors came together to make the bid so the new surgery could be run by locally based GPs.

He said: “This way we could ensure continuity of care for our patients and that their interests are put first.”

The value of the contract they will sign with NHS Hampshire was not disclosed because of “commercial confidentiality”.

Helen Clanchy, director of primary care for NHS Hampshire, said: “We are very pleased to announce plans for these services with Hampshire Health and Dr Sharma, who have each shown that they will provide a high quality service.”

Patients will still be able to see their regular GP and dentist even if they use the new centre.

It will also house a raft of other services, including vaccinations and immunisations, contraceptive services, cervical screening, maternity medical services, minor surgery and stop smoking services.

Under reforms led by health minister Lord Ara Darzi, each NHS primary healthcare trust (PCT) has to have one super-surgery.

NHS Hampshire, the commissioning branch of Hampshire PCT, chose Basingstoke because of the number of people commuting to and from the town.

It was thought that they would benefit most from a service open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, although the service is open to anyone.