GPs offered hundreds of thousands to put on extra appointments this winter

[Northerner]

EXCLUSIVE GPs in Yorkshire have been given £700,000 to offer more in-hours appointments over winter, while GPs in Birmingham are set to receive £375,000 for extra appointments in January.

The winter resilience scheme in NHS Calderdale CCG, which launched in November, has allowed all GPs in the area to offer more appointments between 8am and 6.30pm.

Some of the funding is also being spent on an extended access pilot in south and central Halifax, opening up GP appointments from 6.30pm to 8pm during the week.

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/home/fi...tra-appointments-this-winter/20035782.article

(free registration)

 

[mikeyB]

Yup, GPs have nothing else to do between surgeries, or in the evening when they are knackered after a hard day.

Great plan.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Does that mean 5 minture long appointments to make room?

 

[Dave W]

On the face of it, it looks like GPs will be rolling in dosh (knackered or not) but in the case of Birmingham the £205,000 spread over 8,200 consultations works out at just £25 per patient which seems pretty reasonable. It is though, just a quick application of elastoplast to patch up a system in critical need of major long-term investment in G.P. services.