More GP Surgeries open longer

More GP Surgeries open longer

LONDON. June 17, 2008/3mnewswire.org/ -- More patients are able to see their GP in the evenings and at weekends, statistics released today by the Department of Health show.

New statistics for May 2008, published for the first time, show that 20% of family doctor practices are already offering extended opening for their patients. And in 21 Primary Care Trusts more than half the local family doctor services are offering extended opening.

Following changes to the GP contract agreed with the British Medical Association in March, the local NHS is working with family doctors in each area of the country to agree arrangements for extra weekend and/or evening opening. The Government's aim is that by the end of the year at least 50% of GP surgeries will be offering extended opening hours, either in the evenings or at weekends. The statistics released today show that there has already been fast progress towards this objective in many parts of the country with the percentage of surgeries offering extended opening hour up from 12% in April this year.

Health Services Minister Ben Bradshaw said:

"Today's data shows that the NHS is well on track to achieve our aim of at least half of GPs providing extended hours for patients by the end of the year. This is great news for patients

"Patients tell us that access to GP services is a real issue - they want greater flexibility and choice over when they can see their family doctor. People want more personal and convenient health care, so primary care services need to adapt to respond to this need. I'm very pleased that so many GPs are already responding to this and we expect more and more GPs doing so over the coming months."

In addition to changing the GP contract to reward GP practices that extend their opening hours, the Government is investing an extra £250 million in primary care including:

* setting up over 100 new GP practices in parts of the country that have fewer GPs and greater health challenges;

* opening over 150 GP-led health centres across the country, which will provide access to GP services from 8am-8pm, seven days a week, Any member of the public will be able to use these additional services, while staying registered with their local family doctor service; and

* consulting with the British Medical Association on proposals for an additional £105 million investment to help all GP surgeries further improve the range and quality of services they provide for their patients

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