QUICKER access to a GP or practice nurse, stronger flu vaccination programmes, and improved patient record systems are among the aims of a £7 million funding boost for primary care in Wales.

The cash from the Assembly will help develop what are called enhanced services, and mark the introduction of the new GP contract.

Expansion of practices and the services they provide are the targets, to ease pressure on hospitals. Pontypool and Cwmbran GP Dr Greg Graham welcomed the funding, which he said would benefit patients and GPs.

"There is nothing unexpected here, but it is good that we will get the money up front, instead of getting payments retrospectively," he said. "It is the only way we can plan things effectively, and is one of the vast improvements to the GP contract."

Some £2.6m is being made available for practices to start working on ensuring access for patients within 24 hours to a GP or another member of the primary care team - and sooner in an emergency.

This year, and for the next two years, £5,000 will be available to every participating practice to achieve this goal before or no later than April 2006. Other schemes to be funded by the £7m include:

Higher payments for flu vaccinations for at-risk groups under 65 years. £1.4m to help practices summarise medical records for a new quality system, to improve the accuracy of records and public health information.

£500,000 to Local Health Boards to ensure a full service for treating violent patients.

£1.9m for LHBs to commission anti-coagulation monitoring services for patients on the drug warfarin. This should help relieve hospital haematology departments.

l Provision of 'near patient' testing, which is regular blood monitoring of patients reliant on certain complex rheumatology drugs. l Care of dependent drug users in co-ordination with others. This will involve well-managed methadone or other substitute medication schemes, and associated counselling.