Published: Sunday, 28th June, 2009 4:00pm

Evening visits to GPs 'invaluable"

by Rose Harland

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PATIENTS have given a clean bill of health to an extended hours GP service.

In the current economic climate people are more reluctant to take time off work to see their doctor, and patients at Ringmead Medical Practice have welcomed a service offering appointments outside normal opening hours.

GPs across the country made the decision to open evenings and at weekends last year. Patient Jennifer Bentley, 59, who lives in Viking, Great Hollands, but commutes to London, said being able to use services outside normal hours was invaluable.

She said: 'Evening appointments mean I am able to go through my day as normal, leave at the usual time to head home and then visit my GP - it makes life much easier.'

Patients at the surgeries in Great Hollands Square and Leppington, Birch Hill, have also welcomed a range of health clinics and services, including minor surgery on the premises.

John Bradford, 62, said: 'I had been seeing my GP about a cyst on my left shoulder - it had become infected and after a course of antibiotics I had it removed.

'There was no waiting for hospital appointments - once my course of antibiotics was finished the minor surgery was scheduled. The surgery took all of 10 minutes and then I was free to walk home.'

Surgery patients in Bracknell usually have to travel to hospitals in Reading, Slough, Ascot or Frimley which Mr Bradford said would have caused him additional expense and stress.

Dr Anant Sachdev from Ringmead surgery said patients should have a choice over when they see their doctor. He said: 'Core surgery hours may not be accessible for all patients and hence the more flexibility we can offer, the better we are at serving our community.

'We have always been dedicated to patients having flexible access to us.'

NHS Berkshire East said the Primary Care Trust is working hard so more patients can use extended hours services.

The new Bracknell Healthspace, due to open in 2011, will also allow patients to see their GP outside the normal working day.

Jacky Walters, the PCT"s assistant director for commissioning and performance, said: 'Surgeries across East Berkshire continually assess the needs of their patients, and feedback shows that patients want more convenient access to their GPs.

'I"m very pleased that the majority of GP surgeries in east Berkshire are now offering extended opening hours.'