Listen
Rapid take-up of GP extended hours scheme
09/09/2008
More than half of all Scottish GP practices are committed to offering extended opening hours to patients just five months after the scheme was unveiled.
In all, 529 doctors' surgeries - 52 per cent of the total - across Scotland are now participating or due to start shortly.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon hailed the uptake since April of more flexible opening hours as great news for patients and a fair deal for doctors.
To mark the achievement, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met patients and GPs during a visit to South Queensferry Medical Practice, which started offering early-morning appointments to help commuters in its catchment.
Ms Sturgeon said: "The positive response to extending GP opening hours is a success that everyone in Scotland can celebrate.
"With all of us leading busier lives, GP surgeries are simply not accessible to many people. People shouldn't have to suffer in silence or take time off work to visit the doctor and this was the main reason for bringing in more flexible GP opening hours.
"I'm extremely pleased that since the launch in April, uptake has now reached 52 per cent - which means GP services are now within reach of hundreds of thousands of working people at greater convenience.
"The Scottish Government has supported this policy by making available 9.5 million pounds of new investment and an average-sized surgery can expect to benefit from around 16,000 pounds per year by offering extended hours.
"So this is also a fair deal for doctors and I want to congratulate those GPs who have opted to extend their hours. There can be absolutely no doubt that this is of enormous benefit to the communities they serve.
"I would encourage all those surgeries who are still deciding whether to take part to get involved for the good of the patients who depend on their services."
Dr Jean Turner, Executive Director of the Scotland Patients' Association, said:
"Scotland Patients Association (SPA) is delighted that more and more GPs are offering extra appointments for patients who have difficulties in getting away from work for doctor's appointments.
"If they put off that appointment with their GP, it may be the one which could save their life.
"Early diagnoses may depend on these extra appointments, so Scotland Patients Association hopes that patients who can attend their GP during normal hours will play fair and show responsibility by not asking to use these special appointments.
"Some doctors have offered extra appointments over the years, but have not been paid for doing so until now."
David Small, general manager of Edinburgh Community Health Partnership, said:
"We are delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secertary to South Queensferry Medicial Practice, one of our many practices where early morning appointments are offered to the local community to meet the needs of their commuter population.
"To date 58 per cent of GP practices in Lothian are providing services at extended opening hours. We will continue to work with local practices to encourage further uptake."
Under the flexible GP hours scheme, launched in April 2008, participating practices are paid £2.95 per registered patient per year for offering the service, which equates to £16,000 per year for an average sized practice.
Subscribing practices are required to provide an additional 30 minutes of routine GP consultation time per 1000 patients per week. For an average sized practice this means 2.5 to three hours extra each week. Actual opening hours are determined by the practice, in consultation with their NHS Board, according to local need. The additional consultation time is for weekday evenings, early mornings and Saturday mornings.
In June this year, Minister for Public Health Shona Robison announced an additional £2.65 million to allow participating GP practices to fund nursing support during extended hours.