HEALTH

Everyone knows A&Es are under huge strain but Government plans to extend GP opening hours would have no impact on this, a study has suggested.

Researchers at Imperial College London instead saw that areas in which people find it easier to make GP appointments – such as via online booking systems – see fewer visits to A&E.

The findings, published in the journal BMJ Quality & Safety, evaluated reports from NHS England’s annual GP Patient Survey and included patients registered to 8,124 GP surgeries.

Lead author Dr Thomas Cowling said: “It makes sense to think that extending GP hours will ease the burden on other NHS services but our study suggests this might not be the case with A&E.”

Emergency wards saw 1.9 million more attendances in 2016/17 than in 2011/12 – equivalent to 5,100 more a day.

A sleep expert has outlined the simple steps needed to get a better night’s kip and help lose weight. A recent study revealed a key factor in getting healthier, as well as diet and exercise, is ensuring you get enough sleep.

Dr Iuliana Hartescu, of Loughborough University’s Clinical Sleep Research Unit, says the three form a “health trinity”.

“Sleep, physical activity and diet are very much interlinked,” said Dr Hartescu.

“One affects the others, they are not independent of each other.

“So, before deciding on a lifestyle change – for example before embarking on a diet or wanting to change your physical activity habits – you should put your sleep first, which may be the easiest.

“It will go a long way in helping you maintain the other two behaviours.

“When you’re more rested you are more likely to be physically active and more likely to eat at the right times of the day.”

MARTIN BAGOT is the Mirror’s Health Correspondent