Out of hours GPs struggle with workload and staff shortages

High patient demand and difficulties in recruiting staff were given as reasons, in Bradford City Clinical Commissioning Group governing body papers.

The service is provided by Local Care Direct via a sub-contract with Yorkshire Ambulance Service as the provider of 111 services for Yorkshire and Humber.

The Bradford Airedale and Craven system resilience group provided additional funding of £100,000 for out of hours services, but a wider review of the commissioned service model is required to “ensure long term sustainability”, the CCG said.

CCG clinical chair Akram Khan said: “West Yorkshire urgent care is struggling to deliver the out of hours service partly due to a significant over-trade in the region of 70 per cent above contract, and also difficulty recruiting sufficient staff. This is exacerbated by geographical dispersion of the service.”