GP seven-day access costs to exceed £1.5bn by 2021

[Northerner]

At least £1.5bn will be ploughed into extending GP access by 2021, but the Conservatives will still not be able to deliver what they promised in their manifesto, a Pulse analysis reveals.

The analysis shows that £283m has already been allocated to pilots that are running in various areas across the country. Over £1bn will be spent from 2018/19 in order to roll out seven-day GP access across the country.

But even with this large investment, the original commitment from the Conservatives to have access to GPs 'from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week’ will not be fulfilled.

NHS England has told commissioners it will give them £6 per patient to extend GP access by an additional 1.5 hours on weekdays, but does not demand 8am to 8pm opening at weekends – only some level of prebookable and same-day appointments ‘to meet local population needs’.

And this investment comes despite GP funding not meeting demand in core hours, leading to lengthening waiting times.

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/hot-top...costs-to-exceed-15bn-by-2021/20033066.article

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A quart from a pint pot...🙄

 

[mikeyB]

Nobody has ever bemoaned the lack of 7 day opening for GPs for as long as I've been alive. Most people aren't that bothered, only being bothered if it takes then two weeks to get an appointment, by which time they are better. Oh, ....

 

[grovesy]

Surprised not one bit! My own surgery has reduced hours over the last few months!