GPs offer extended surgery hours

12:25pm Wednesday 15th October 2008

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NEARLY half of all surgeries in Gloucestershire will be offering extended opening hours from the end of October compared to just 9 per cent in Worcestershire.

Since a government target of 50 per cent was introduced this summer, 15 out of 17 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) across the country have seen GPs offering longer hours, meeting the target three months early.

In the Cotswolds, Chipping Campden Surgery said it would be offering extended opening hours while The White House Surgery in Moreton said it was still under discussion.

Abbotswood Medical Practice in Pershore has been offering extended opening services since April, as have Merstow Green Medical Practice in Evesham.

Also in Evesham, De Montfort Medical Centre said extended opening were still under discussion and Abbey Medical Practice confirmed it would not be offering any extended GP hours.

Richard Allen, practice manager at Abbey Medical Practice, said: “We firmly believe that to provide extended services would dilute the service we already offer.

“Around 88 per cent of our patients indicated they were happy with the opening hours we already have when we surveyed them last year.”

Depending on local circumstances, those GPs surgeries who have agreed to extend their opening hours can do so in a variety of ways including opening on Saturday mornings, earlier in the morning during the working week or with evening sessions.

Chief executive of Gloucestershire PCT, Jan Stubbings, said: “Significant progress has been made since spring and local GPs have recognised the importance of listening and considering the views of patients before reaching decisions on opening hours.

“We are pleased to report that nearly half of our GP surgeries in Gloucestershire will be offering extended hours from this month and we are confident over 50 per cent of surgeries will be doing so by December.

“Productive discussions are continuing with a number of local surgeries in this regard.”