GPs increase opening hours

The increased hours cover the early morning before 8am, after 6.30pm in the evening and on Saturday mornings.

The numbers are expected to rise further as more GPs work with their staff to achieve this.

Chief Executive Michael Scott said: "This is an important step in our work to improve healthcare access and choice for everyone in Westminster to see a doctor at a time that suits them.

"We have listened to local residents who have called for more flexible and convenient GP access and have made this a priority.

"We understand the difficulties of fitting GP appointments in with work and family demands so hope this will help.

"Thanks to the commitment and co-operation of GPs we are making this happen. In the long term we believe this will bring real benefits in addressing health inequalities so our residents get the healthcare they need."

The Marylebone Health Centre in Marylebone Road, Marylebone, is one of the practices offering extended hours.

Dr Andy Goodstone said: "To ensure good access to our GP and Nursing services we now have additional appointments available for patients starting at 7am with the last appointment at 7.30pm for two days each week.

"Our patients have all responded positively to this extension of our surgery hours and we have had excellent attendance at the early and late appointments so far.

"Thanks to the dedication of our practice team who have changed their original contractual working hours, and our patient partnership group who supported us in our planning, we hope the early and later appointments will enable us to continue to offer excellent access for all our patients."

Mandy Walsh, Practice Manager at Bayswater Medical Centre in Craven Road , Bayswater, said: "We have just started offering extended hours for patients offering a late night Wednesday surgery until 8pm and Saturday morning opening.

"Our first week was fully booked and our patients welcomed the increased times as it proved more convenient for patients."

NHS Westminster has launched a Practice Nursing scheme to fund increased nursing hours so patients can also have a greater choice of appointment times with practice nurses.

In addition to this extra GP services which will be open from 8am-8pm seven days a week are being planned.