GPS ALREADY HARD PRESSED

TO extend opening hours across Greater Manchester it is vital that a long-term plan is in place to provide enough GPs, practice staff and resources to allow practices to offer these services.

We must ensure there isn’t a knock-on effect for other services and that it doesn’t have a negative impact on practices and patients outside the area.

For example, we have heard reports of urgent GP out of hour’s services having difficulties in filling GP shifts due to the same GPs now working in seven day services instead.

It is vital that this is a good use of an over stretched NHS budget – for instance, the seven day pilots showed low demand of appointments on Sundays.

Additionally, while one report showed a three per cent reduction in A&E attendances, this needs to be evaluated against the cost of running these seven day services, and there may not therefore be any cost saving or could be costing the NHS much more.

At present, GP services are at breaking point from a combination of record patient demand, falling resources and an emerging shortage of GPs.

It is essential that policy-makers in Manchester work to improve this situation and ensure that any further expansion in services is properly and sustainably funded. Dr Chaand Nagpaul GP Committee chair British Medical Association