GPs open up to extended access target
- Published: 10 July 2008 09:00
- Author: Helen Crump
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- Last Updated: 10 July 2008 09:56
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Almost a quarter of primary care trust areas have now hit the Department of Health's target to extend GP opening hours, latest figures reveal.
The statistics, released on Tuesday, show 23 per cent of PCT or care trust areas have met the aim in this year's operating framework of 50 per cent of practices in their area extending their hours.
But 26 per cent of PCTs have so far failed to persuade any GP practices to offer more hours. The mixed picture shows 28 per cent of practices in England - 8,292 - offering extended hours as of 23 June. The average proportion of practices offering extended access in each area was 27 per cent.
NHS South East Coast was the strategic health authority with most practices offering extended hours - 55 per cent - while NHS South West had least, with 16 per cent.
Last month's figures showed that 20 per cent of practices were offering extended opening hours.
NHS director general for commissioning and system management, Mark Britnell, said: "The feedback shows that the NHS is mobilising quickly to improve patient care by extending access to primary care across the country."
