GPs Reluctantly Accept Extended Opening Hours

GPs Reluctantly Accept Extended Opening Hours

The majority of GPs have agreed to accept proposals from the Department of Health which will extend the opening hours of a typical practice by about three hours a week.

Of the 27,000 family doctors responding to a British Medical Association (BMA) poll, 92% accepted the proposal.

However, 98% said the government's method of negotiation was "unacceptable" and 97% said they have no confidence in the government's handling of the NHS.

A further 93% said the government's policy of bringing private providers into NHS general practice will be bad for patients and the service as a whole.

Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GP Committee, said: "Let me emphasise that a majority of GPs were and remain willing to provide extended hours surgeries. However, GPs believe they are being railroaded into an unrealistic vision of extended hours. They believe it is at the expense of improvements in clinical care and they think the offer, in its present form, means patients will not get the level and flexibility of service in extended hours that they both expect and deserve. However it is time to draw a line under this and the BMA will now work towards the practical implementation of this package."

Health & Protection - 7th March 2008