MP Campaigns For Improved Health Services In Beverley & Holderness

MP Graham Stuart has welcomed news that NHS England has provided funds to the Clinical Commissioning Group to improve access to GP services by making more appointments available outside of normal opening hours.

Mr. Stuart says he  often receives complaints from constituents that GP care is not currently available during the evenings and over the weekends.

Commenting on the news Mr. Stuart said;

“I know it’s really annoying when you need to see a GP and you can’t get an appointment when you’re free.”

“Many people can not leave work to go to the doctor during the working day and a Saturday or evening appointment would suit them better.”

 “Now the CCG is listening to this very reasonable request and is looking to see how it can provide an extended service as well as making more same-day appointments available.”

NHS England funding teh CCG to offer additional appointments from 2019 and is running a short survey to find out the views of patients.

Gina Palumbo, local GP and Clinical Chair of the CCG said:

“Some GP practices in East Riding of Yorkshire currently provide a limited service outside of standard opening hours but we want to extend this so that everybody in our region is able to access appointments in evenings and weekends if they wish to do so.”

“We are looking to an extended service which will provide more same day and routine appointments with a mix of doctors, nurses and pharmacists, depending on what the patient’s clinical need is. We want to use a range of locations across the region that will allow all East Riding of Yorkshire patients to access appointments as part of this extended service, but it may not necessarily be at their own practice.”

Mr. Stuart added;

“This is good news for my constituents and I urge people to fill in the survey and help improve access to GPs in our area.”

The CCG survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ERYextendedaccess and printed copies of the survey can be picked up at GP practices or by contacting the CCG to request a copy on 01482 672156.