69% Of GP Surgeries Now Offer Extended Opening Hours, UK

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 14 Jan 2009 - 2:00 PST

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Over 69 per cent of GP surgeries are now offering patients extended opening hours, the Department of Health announced today.

Statistics released by the Department show that as at the end of December target deadline, more than 69% of the 8,262 GP practices in England are offering more flexible early morning, evening and weekend opening. GPs nationally met the challenging Government target of 50 per cent of practices offering extended opening hours by the end of 2008, three months early in September.

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said:
"I am pleased to see that over 69% of GP practices across the country are now providing early morning, evening or weekend opening to reflect local patients' needs. Flexible and convenient opening hours provide millions more appointments and make it much easier for patients to see a GP.

"Thanks to the hard work of local NHS organisations and GP practices, this has far exceeded the original target of half of GP surgeries offering extended opening hours by the end of 2008. I would strongly encourage anyone who is not satisfied with access in their area to take this up with their local NHS."

Notes

1. The GP extended hours statistics can be accessed here.

2. 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.

3. The Government has invested 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.

Department Of Health, UK