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GP surgeries to open seven days a week, says David Cameron GP surgeries to open seven days a week, says David Cameron
(about 4 hours later)
Family doctors will offer advice over the internet and open longer hours for seven days a week to help ease the pressure on struggling A&E departments, Dave Cameron has revealed. Family doctors will offer advice over the internet and open for longer hours, seven days a week, to help ease the pressure on struggling A&E departments, David Cameron has said.
The prime minister said he would like GP surgeries to open from 8am until 8pm and over the weekends to fit in with the lifestyles of working people. He said a £50m pilot scheme would be rolled out across the country.The prime minister said he would like GP surgeries to open from 8am until 8pm and over the weekends to fit in with the lifestyles of working people. He said a £50m pilot scheme would be rolled out across the country.
"I think it is the right approach to look at this because obviously our accident and emergency departments do a brilliant job but they do have 4 million more people going through them than was the case in 2004," he told ITV's Daybreak. "I think it is the right approach to look at this because obviously our accident and emergency departments do a brilliant job but they do have four million more people going through them than was the case in 2004," he told ITV's Daybreak.
"A lot of people going to accident and emergency really need a GP rather than accident and emergency, so I think this pilot scheme …is a very good step forward." "A lot of people going to accident and emergency really need a GP rather than accident and emergency, so I think this pilot scheme … is a very good step forward."
He later told Sky: "Sometimes people using Accident & Emergency really just need to see a GP but for hard-working people it is often too difficult because you are at work, you can't get an appointment at the time that fits. He later told Sky: "Sometimes people using accident and emergency really just need to see a GP but for hard-working people it is often too difficult because you are at work, you can't get an appointment at the time that fits.
"Let's see if we can have GPs' surgeries open 12 hours a day, seven days a week so you can always get that appointment you need.""Let's see if we can have GPs' surgeries open 12 hours a day, seven days a week so you can always get that appointment you need."
The plans risk a row with doctors over the extension of working hours. However, the proposals will first be trialled in nine areas to see if they can be made to work, with cash going to groups of GPs who come up with the most efficient ways to extend opening hours.The plans risk a row with doctors over the extension of working hours. However, the proposals will first be trialled in nine areas to see if they can be made to work, with cash going to groups of GPs who come up with the most efficient ways to extend opening hours.
Under the scheme, GPs may be able to see some patients by video consultation over the internet or give advice by email.Under the scheme, GPs may be able to see some patients by video consultation over the internet or give advice by email.
Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is due to talk about the initiative in his speech to the Conservative party conference.Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is due to talk about the initiative in his speech to the Conservative party conference.
"We live in a 24/7 society and we need GPs to find new ways of working so they can offer appointments at times that suit hard-working people," he said. "Cutting-edge GP practices here in Manchester are leading the way, and we want many more patients across the country to benefit." "We live in a 24/7 society and we need GPs to find new ways of working so they can offer appointments at times that suit hard-working people," Hunt said. "Cutting-edge GP practices here in Manchester are leading the way, and we want many more patients across the country to benefit."
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