Monday, 4 February 2008
For immediate use

Improving access to health services
Celia Barlow MP supports extending GP opening times to ensure every patient gets an appointment.

Despite general satisfaction with GP services being high, Celia Barlow MP agrees with patients, “Extending GP opening times will help to meet the needs of patients who find it difficult to access services during the daytime.”  Last year’s GP patient survey showed that nearly six and a half million patients were dissatisfied with the opening hours of their GP practice. 

The Government believes a guaranteed 1.5 per cent increase in primary care investment, combined with an average three extra hours opening each week, will provide greater convenience for patients. Under the proposals, the appointments offered by GPs in the evening or at weekends would be in addition to the daytime services they already provide.

Celia Barlow MP said “We have a duty to ensure improvements are continuously being made in the quality of the services provided for patients.”

Ends