DOCTORS could supply an alternative to the controversial super surgeries' plan, the Warrington Guardian can exclusively reveal.

They have formed a group allowing GPs - and managers - to decide where people get treatment.

It could lead to a compromise alternative to Warrington Primary Care Trust's super surgery' plan, which looks set to be voted down.

Dr Max Levy, of Latchford Medical Centre, said: "We are going through the final stages. We are drawing up the contracts. It's going to happen in the next month or so.

"Now we are in one large group the PCT is being receptive. We know the area and what needs to be improved."

The PCT has proposed around five super surgeries' instead of 29 GP practices but has faced massive opposition.

The new group - officially called a Practice-Based Commissioning group - believes it could solve many of the issues the super surgeries would be targeting, such as more integrated care and reducing hospital admissions.

The group could lead to a modified plan for the town's health care to replace the super surgery' proposal, which looks set to be rejected at the PCT board meeting in June if the trust sticks to its claim of listening to people's views, given that the level of opposition included a 20,000-signature petition.

John Gartside, chairman of the PCT, said: "I think the commissioning group is going to be really helpful. It really does mean proper engagement of GPs."

But he added: "It is part of Government policy, but it is by no means all."

Practice-Based Commissioning is a Government initiative devolving power from the PCT to individual doctors' GP practices.

For example, dermatology tests, which are currently done at the hospital, could be done cheaper and closer to a patient's home.

Patients are more likely to be treated without the need for costly accident and emergency admissions, which was one of the key aims of the PCT's super surgery' proposals.

Warrington does not have a walk-in surgery or out-of-hours GP access, which means there are higher A&E admissions, which are very costly.

Any money saved then goes back to the doctors to be reinvested in other services.

Dr Levy said the commissioning group was formed from four smaller groups, which had been facing PCT opposition.

A compromise plan could still see the creation of the Orford and Garven Place super centres'.

GPs from those areas have shown interest in moving in, and doctors from around town could commission patient services from them.

Dr Simon Redfern, of Birchwood Medical Centre, said: "We think it's the way forward. We didn't do this in response to the PCT. This was going to go ahead anyway. You could say we will be delivering some of the service benefits proposed for the super surgeries."

Helen Southworth, Warrington South MP, said she was delighted' with the move and Jon Tomlinson, chief executive of the PCT, said he was "very pleased" with it.

Warrington North MP Helen Jones said the PCT's proposals were not in line with Government policy.