Patients lose out on extended surgeries
Jul 9 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal
PATIENTS in the North East are missing out on access to out-of-hours GP surgeries, figures released yesterday by the Government have revealed.
The Department of Health has set a target of 50% of GP surgeries in each Primary Care Trust having extended opening hours, to be met by the end of this year.
It released figures yesterday showing how close to meeting the targets each PCT across the country was for the month of June.
In the North East only Hartlepool and Newcastle PCTs meet the target at the moment. And many more still have a huge way to go.
In County Durham just two of 75 surgeries offer extended opening hours and in South Tyneside none of the 29 surgeries offer such a service.
In Gateshead the figure is two from 33 – 6% – while in Sunderland it is five from 54 which is 9%.
As a whole in the North East 21% of surgeries offer extended opening hours compared to the national average of 27%.
PCTs from across the region last night said they were working to improve access to out-of-hours surgeries for patients.
Berenice Molloy, Senior Acute Manager at County Durham PCT, said: “We are working with GPs throughout County Durham to try to encourage them to get on board and open for longer. Hopefully our figures for the next few months should be a lot better. It is quite a complicated process involving lots of staff when a surgery stays open for longer than normal.”
A spokesman for NHS North of Tyne which covers the Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside PCT’s said: “We have been having discussions with GPs across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland about extending their opening times. Some were already doing this and since the discussions started others have come on board with more to follow.
“As such, we expect to see an improvement in the situation very soon in North Tyneside. This is good news for patients who have said they would welcome extended opening hours at GP surgeries.”
And a spokesperson for NHS South of Tyne and Wear said: “We are working with GPs in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland on how the range and quality of services they provide for their patients can be further improved and, as part of this, we have very recently reached agreement with a number of local practices for extra weekend and/or evening opening hours.
“In Sunderland, 46 out of a total of 54 practices will now offer extended opening hours, as will 23 practices in South Tyneside and 23 in Gateshead.
“We are delighted that these extensions to practice opening hours have now been finalised with a large number of GPs, which should further improve access to services for local patients.”
