Jacqui Smith MP meets with local
health chiefs at Worcestershire Primary Care Trust to discuss out
of hours services at GP
surgeries.
Jacqui Smith met
with Worcestershire PCT’s Chairman Dr Bryan Smith OBE and Chief
Executive Paul Bates last week to see if GP surgeries in Redditch
will extend their opening hours.
Although
nationally the government has met its target of extending the
opening hours of half of GP surgeries – locally more needs to be
done. The PCT assured
the MP that they intend to introduce increased funding for the
scheme that they hope local GPs will accept. The extra money will help pay
for receptionist staff and extra clinical staff to be on hand
during the extended hours.
Jacqui
said.
“So far the national variation in
the number of GPs in this scheme is very marked. In some places nearly all
practices have extended their hours. However, many Worcestershire GPs
have not been persuaded that opening their doors for extra hours
would be financially viable for the service required. Now the PCT are offering
extra money I hope that Redditch patients will soon be able to get
more convenient GP services.”
Jacqui is
pictured at PCT Headquarters in Worcester
with Dr Bryan
Smith OBE and Paul Bates.
To contact Jacqui about this story please email her at smithjj@parliament.uk
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