More GPs opening longer, figures show

New figures published by the Department of Health (DoH) show more GPs opened for extended hours in April compared to March this year.

The statistics confirmed that last month 6,159 out of 8,250 practices offered opening hours. This represents 74.9 per cent of the total number of such facilities.

In March, the total was 73.5 per cent.

According to the DoH, 99.3 per cent of the commissioners in the UK have achieved the operating framework of having half of their GP practices offer such opening hours.

Other news from the department this week included a national pilot scheme for personal healthcare budgets reaching its next stage.

Under these proposals, patients are to have more involvement in where the money spent on their treatment goes.

This includes what services are used and how they are delivered.

“There is clearly real enthusiasm and energy across health and social care for this agenda,” commented health minister Lord Darzi.