All six surgeries would re-locate to the new building which would be built at a site still to be decided in the city centre.

The polyclinic could also offer extended opening hours, facilities for Lancaster University medical students and other services, some of which are currently provided at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

These could include minor surgery, diagnostic scans, diabetes treatment, physiotherapy, dermatology, occupational therapy, district nursing and community mental health.

Dr Robin Jackson, vice-chairman of the Coastal Local Medical Committee and a GP at the Rosebank surgery in Ashton Road, said there were also plans for a second new health centre north of the river.

That would serve patients who currently attend the Owen Road surgery in Skerton and Rosebank's Scale Hall branch, but both would also have a presence in the new polyclinic.

The polyclinic concept was suggested in a report by government health minister Lord Darzi.

Dr Jackson said: "The surgeries are currently housed in Victorian or Georgian premises which they have outgrown.

"We're bursting at the seams and we need new modern premises."
Some patients have raised fears polyclinics will mean losing contact with their usual family GP and travelling further for appointments.

But Dr Jackson said: "Patients will still be able to see their existing doctor.

"The practices will have their own discreet suites and you could compare it to an airport where different flight operators have their own sections.

"But we can share a number of front of office facilities so there would be savings for the taxpayer."

Dr Jackson added that the existing surgeries were within about half a mile of each other and the site of the polyclinic would be close to all of them.

North Lancashire Primary Care Trust had expressed an interest in the council's Auction Mart car park in Thurnham Street.

However, Dr Jackson – who wants to see the new centre up and running within two years – said it was now felt the site was too small.

He said the idea was for a private developer to fund the new buildings and rent them back to GPs on a long-term lease.

The PCT's medical director, Dr Jim Gardner, said: "If this is what Lancaster GPs want we are certainly supportive of that.

"But we would need persuading and the population of Lancaster would need persuading that a big new facility is deliverable in terms of access."

The PCT's immediate priority is a £1million government funded health centre in Heysham, which will include a new GP surgery opening from 8am-8pm and could also house a pharmacy, a dental practice, a Citizens Advice Bureau, a children's centre and social workers.

There have been around 30 expressions of interest from organisations interested in running the centre and five will be invited to proceed to tender next month.