For many people like the self-employed or hourly paid workers, seeing a GP during the working day can impact on their pay packet. It is easy to say you should always seek medical advice as soon as possible if you have concerns but it can be a difficult choice if affects the pounds in your pocket and this government doesn’t find that acceptable.
Delivering the best possible services to patients that fit with their lives is a key priority for the Government. People have consistently said that more flexible and convenient GP access would make life much easier.
As a result, in October 2008 the Department of Health announced that over 50% of GP surgeries would offer patients extended opening hours. 34 of Doncaster 46 GP centres now offer extended opening hours.
The average practice would be expected to open an extra three hours outside the normal working day, or at the weekend, making it easier for patients to access services when there are competing work and home pressures.
To further address health inequalities the Government is also investing £250 million in new, additional, services including over 150 GP-led health centres around the country, open 8am-8pm, 7 days a week, which can be used by any member of the public.
Doncaster will benefit from a new 8am to 8pm family doctor practice that will be introduced in the town centre as well as four new ‘super’ health centres.