Open-all-hours GPs

THERE have been calls for GP surgeries to extend their hours (Letters). Well, I work at a GP surgery that is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, from 8am to 8pm.

You can walk in on the day or book an appointment. We try hard to make patients’ appointments for the times they require, especially as employers do not seem to want their staff to take time off for GP visits.

We have just calculated the ‘did not attend’ figure for December: 435 patients failed to show up, and it’s a similar figure every month.

Could this be the real reason for problems with surgeries not seeing enough patients? Imagine the total amount over a year for all surgeries in the country.

Is the answer to charge a patient who does not turn up for an appointment with the GP?

Nicola GATWARD, Newport Pagnell, Bucks.