Over Half Of GP Surgeries Now Offer Extended Opening Hours, UK

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 14 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Over 50 percent of GP surgeries are now offering patients extended opening hours, the Department of Health announced today.

Statistics released by the Department show that in under six months there has been a 40 percent increase in the number of practices offering more flexible early morning, evening and weekend opening. The result is that GPs have met the challenging Government target of 50 per cent of practices offering extended opening hours by the end of this year, three months early. As at the end of September, over 51 percent of the 8,275 GP practices in England are offering extended opening hours.

The initiative for extended GP opening hours follows changes to the GP contract agreed with the British Medical Association in March, where the local NHS worked with family doctors in each area of the country to agree arrangements for extra weekend and/or evening opening.

Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, said:

"In a modern NHS, ensuring that busy patients have access to a GP at a convenient time is a top priority. I am extremely pleased to announce that so many practices are now offering greater flexibility in their opening hours. I also welcome today's agreement on the new GP contract for 2009/10.

"Thanks to the hard work of GPs and the local NHS we have achieved our challenging target ahead of schedule. It is fantastic news for GPs and patients that over half of GP practices up and down the country are now offering evening or weekend appointments and shows the progress achieved in delivering on the goals set out in Lord Darzi's NHS review.

"GPs play a vital role in offering information and support to help people make healthy lifestyle choices and prevent illness and we are making real progress in addressing health inequalities through improving access and the record investments in primary care."

Chief Executive of the National Association for Patient Participation Graham Box said:

"Patients greatly value high quality general practice and it is real progress when this is provided in a way that better suits local people. This is not just a question of convenience since improved access will also improve health outcomes, as people will be less likely to put off going to see their GP."

In addition to agreeing a new GP contract that will 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; and

-- 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.

The GP extended hours statistics can be accessed here.

Department of Health
http://www.dh.gov.uk