The city is to get a dedicated nurse-led practice for up to 1,600 nursing and care home residents.

The Department of Health has announced a number of pilot schemes to include walk-in centres in areas where there is a shortage of GP surgeries.

The new care home project has been welcomed by the Plymouth Primary Care Trust. It is expected to be up and running next year.

Tackling inequalities

Trust chairman Dr Paul Hardy said: "Nursing home residents have very specific and often complicated needs. We currently meet these needs but feel that Plymouth's services can be improved even further and we are keen to encourage further innovation of service delivery in this area.

"We know that more patients in the nursing homes would prefer to stay out of hospital where possible and this new scheme should help us to achieve that."

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "These new pilots are great news for people living in some of the most deprived and under doctored areas in the country.