The GP Extended Access service is offering an additional 334 appointments a week, making it easier for patients to access primary care services at a time that suits them.

You can now make an appointments  for the evenings until 8pm, weekends and Bank Holidays.

Dr Naomi Caldwell, Clinical Primary Care lead said: “We understand our patients are leading increasingly busy lives and there is now much more demand to be able to see a GP or nurse outside normal working hours.

The service is being delivered by a collaboration of GP practices in the area and is exactly like an appointment at a patient’s GP practice. If a patient wishes to attend an extended hours appointment, you will be given the option to travel to another local GP practice and will not see your own GP.  This means that extended access appointments require patient consent for sharing their records. Patients preferring to see their usual GP or practice nurse should book an appointment with their practice during normal opening hours.

Patients will still need to contact their GP practice in the usual way to request an appointment.  If there is no appointment available at the practice, patients may be offered an appointment with the GP Extended Access Service, if this is right for them. 

Patients needing urgent care when their practice is closed should continue to call NHS 111 in the usual way.