GP try-out helps kids

A TRIAL out-of-hours GP surgery at a busy children’s hospital slashed admissions by 18.2 per cent over a sixmonth period.

The surgery, which operated from 2- 10pm seven days a week at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, was also found to cut waiting times.

Professor David TaylorRobinson, of the University of Liverpool, said: “During this six- month period, patients seen during the hours when the GP was available were significantly less likely to be admitted, exceed the four-hour waiting target or leave before being seen.”