PATIENTS will be able to get GP appointments at weekends after 11 surgeries in Blackburn with Darwen agreed to open over the festive period in a bid to ease pressure on hospital staff.
It comes after the government injected £4million into East Lancashire’s health economy, due to fears that emergency services could be overwhelmed this winter.
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Patients of the following surgeries will be able to see a GP for ‘urgent’ reasons over the last weekend in December, and the first two weekends in January: Umar Medical Centre, Shifa Surgery, Brookhouse Medical Centre, Brownhill Surgery, Primrose Bank Medical Centre, Darwen Healthcare, William Hopwood Street Surgery, Limefield Surgery, Redlam Surgery, Ewood Medical Centre and Witton Medical Centre.
Extra slots are also due to be offered at some surgeries in the rest of East Lancashire, but these have not yet been finalised.
Dr Chris Clayton, clinical chief officer at Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “As a local GP, I know people will value being able to see their doctor for urgent health matters on these particular weekends, which are often the busiest times in the year for health services.
“Being able to book an appointment and visit their practice will not only offer a local, convenient service but also better continuity of care as the practice has access to patients’ records and a wealth of information about any ongoing health needs they might have.
“We are hopeful this service will prove useful to a number of people as well as also easing unnecessary pressure on other services like the accident and emergency departments.”
The 11 practices are advertising the opening times on their websites and in surgeries.
Dr Clayton added: “This service will not only offer the best place to go for urgent problems, but it’s also probably the most convenient as most patients will know their GP practice and be comfortable there and in many cases those practices are just down the road.
“Patients should only use A&E for emergencies which include severe injury and illness.
“By offering this additional service we can help ensure patients get the care they need as quickly and efficiently as possible and in many cases save them from unnecessary hospital trips over during these particular weekends.”
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