Up to £5.9 million is in the pipeline for over-stretched surgeries in St Albans to help extend and modernise practices.

The Department of Health released a statement last Friday saying that in the East of England, GPs across 203 practices would benefit from an estimated £15 million to improve facilities.

In January this year, General Practices were invited to submit proposals for investment in infrastructure in 2015/16, which would enable improved access to clinical services and reduce emergency admissions.

NHS England received bids from over 2,000 surgeries, which has resulted in over 1,000 GP practices having bids approved in principle for investment.

However while the investment has been promised, it is subject to due diligence checks before final approval.

A breakdown of funding figures shows that in St Albans, Harvey Group Practice, which has surgeries in Russell Avenue and St Brelades Place, is set to receive the largest grant locally, after seeking between £1.1-£5 million.

Grange Street Surgery has sought between £100,000-£500,000; Lattimore and Maltings Surgeries have each been earmarked to receive less than £100,000, while the Red House at Harpenden Memorial Hospital should also get £100,000.

At the time of going to press, none of the surgeries had responded to the Herts Ad about the promised funding.

A spokesman for the Department of Health declined to comment and referred the paper to NHS England, which in turn referred it to East and North Herts NHS Trust.

But when approached, that trust recommended the Herts Advertiser ask Herts Valleys CCG to respond.

However that organisation suggested approaching North, Midlands & East Communications Services, which in turn suggested trying the Department of Health. Before going to press, Herts Valleys CCG was again asked to make a comment, as it commissions health services for this district but this paper was told “everybody is in meetings”.