Department of Health and Social Care
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Extended hours proves a big hit at one Lincolnshire surgery as credit crunch bites
Patients who are reluctant to take time out of work to see their GP have given a huge thumbs up to extended opening times at one Lincolnshire surgery which has seen a rise in the number of patients booking appointments outside of working hours.
According to Dr Barton, GP at Welton Family Health Centre, it’s more important than ever to give patients a choice about when they visit their doctor in this difficult climate.
He said: “For the majority of my patients, taking time off work is difficult at the best of times, but in this difficult economic climate, it is even harder for them.
"We are glad to be able to offer extended opening hours for our patients on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. We have had an excellent take up so far and feedback from patients has been positive."
Carol Price, from Welton, is already benefitting from flexible appointments at her surgery, Welton Family Health Centre. Carol, Communications Coordinator at Siemens, said:
“Working in Lincoln can make it difficult to find time to fit medical appointments in Welton into my daily routine. It can be very frustrating to have to take several hours off work for a quick appointment, so I think it’s excellent that I can see my GP out of office hours.”
Seventy-five GPs (three quarters) in Lincolnshire now offer extra appointments early in the morning, during the evening or at the weekend, making it easier for local people to manage their working life, home commitments and their health.
In addition to extended hours, the new walk-in health centre which opened on 11 May 2009 on Monks Road in Lincoln is also providing local residents and visitors with access to a health professional seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.
This means that any member of the public will be able to walk in and see a medic or nurse, without the need for an appointment. You won’t need to be registered with the centre and can use its services in addition to the surgery where you are registered.
Carol added: “The new walk in health centre in the city centre could be of great value not only to me, but to the large employee base at Siemens who travel into the city from all parts of the county. Being able to visit a walk-in health centre would definitely save employees lost working time.”
Jim Heys, Assistant Director of Health Outcomes NHS Lincolnshire, said: “We have made excellent progress with increasing the number of practices providing early morning, evening and weekend opening. We now have 75 practices opening at times that are more convenient to patients and the feedback we are getting from patients shows they are very pleased with the access they have to local family doctors and their services.
“When you need a fast appointment, you can expect to be offered an appointment within two working days, or an appointment with a practice nurse within one working day. All GP surgeries should also offer you the opportunity to book appointments more than two days in advance, if you prefer.”
For further details of GP surgeries offering extended hours, please call 01522 515 349.
The NHS National GP Access Programme aims to deliver the best possible services to patients that fit in with their lives.
Notes to editors
The following GP surgeries offer extended hours. For further details of GP surgeries offering extended hours, please call 01522 515 349.
Alford
Merton Lodge Surgery 01507 463262
Bassingham
Bassingham Surgery 01522 788250
Bilingborough
The New Springwells Practice 0844 4140999
Billinghay
Billinghay Medical Practice 0844 4120050
Binbrook
Binbrook Surgery 01472 398202
Boston
Greyfriars Surgery 01205 311133
Liquorpond Street Surgery 01205 362763
Parkside Surgery 01205 365881
Stuart House Surgery 01205 362173
The Medical Centre - Old Leake 01205 870666
Westside Surgery 01205 362556
Kirton Medical Centre 01205 722437
Bottesford
Belvoir Vale Surgery 01949 842341
The Welby Practice 01949 842325
Bourne
Bourne Galletly Practice Team 01778562200
Hereward Medical Group, Bourne 01778 393399
Caistor
Caistor Surgery 01472 851203
Castle Bytham
The Glenside Country Practice 01780 410205
Caythorpe
Caythorpe Surgery 01400 272215
Coningsby
The New Conningsby Surgery 01526344544
Corby Glen
The Market Cross Surgery 01476 550056
Crowland
Abbeyview Surgery 01773 210254
Gainsborough
Cleveland Surgery 01427 613158
Hawthorn Surgery 0844 4996995
Pottergate Surgery 01427 612895
Grantham
Colsterworth Surgery 01476 860243
Harrowby Lane Surgery 01476 579494
Long Bennington Surgery 01400 281220
St Peter’s Hill Surgery 0844 4773612
St John’s Medical Centre 0844 4773755
Swingbridge Surgery 01476 571166
Woolsthorpe Surgery 01476 870166
Vine House Surgery 01476 576851
Gosberton
Gosberton Medical Centre 01775 840204
Heckington
Millview Medical Centre 01529 460213
Holbeach
Holbeach Medical Centre 01406 423288
Littlebury Medical Centre 01406 422231
Ingham
The Ingham Surgery 01522 730269
Lincoln
Abbey Medical Practice 01522 530334
Arboretum Surgery 01522 524274
Burton Road Surgery 01522 544222
Cliff House Medical Practice 01522 872872
Glebe Park Surgery 01522 530633
Lindum Medical Practice 01522 569033
The Witham Practice 01522 544101
Birchwood Medical Practice 01522 699999
Boultham Medical Practice 01522 874444
Brant Road Surgery 0844 8151480
Branston Surgery 01522 793081
Brayford Medical Practice 01522 543943
City Medical Practice 01522 876800
Newark Road Surgery 01522 537944
Richmond Medical Centre 01522 500240
Springcliffe Surgery 01522 520443
Swallowbeck Surgery 01522 681400
The Heath Surgery 0844 4773934
University Health Centre 01522 870010
Woodland Medical Practice 0844 8151999
Hibaldstow Surgery 01652 650580
Minster Medical Practice 0844 8151384
South Park Surgery 0844 4773934
Glebe Park Surgery 01522 530633
Crossroads Medical Practice, North Hykeham 01522 682848
Long Sutton
Long Sutton Medical Practice 01406 362081
Louth
James Street Family Practice 01507 611122
Newmarket Medical Practice 01507 603121
The Kidgate Surgery 01507 602421
Mablethorpe
Marisco Medical Practice 01507 473483
Market Deeping
The Deepings Practice 01778579000
Market Rasen
Market Rasen Surgery 01673 843556
Metheringham
Metheringham Surgery 01526 323955
Church Walk Surgery 01526 320522
Moulton
Moulton Medical Centre 01406 370265
Nettleham
Nettleham Medical Practice 01522 751717
North Somercotes
Marsh Medical Practice 01507 358623
North Thoresby
The North Thoresby Surgery 01472 840202
Saxilby
The Glebe Practice 0844 4773462
Trent Valley Surgery 0844 8151954
Spilsby
The Spilsby Surgery 0844 4773309
Skegness
Beacon Medical Practice 01754 897000
Hawthorn Medical Practice 01754 896350
Wainfleet Surgery 01754 880212
Sleaford
Sleaford Medical Group 01529 303301
Ruskington Medical Practice 01526 832204
Spalding
Church Street Surgery 01775 724088
Munro Medical Centre 0844 8151571
Penneygate Health Centre 01775 710133
Stamford
St Mary’s Medical Centre 01780 764121
The Little Surgery 01780 763308
The New Sheepmarket Surgery 0844 4996624
Stickney
Stickney Surgery 01205 480237
Sutterton
Sutterton Surgery 01205 460254
Swineshead
Swinseshead Medical Group 01205 820204
Horncastle
Horncastle Surgery 01507 522477
Tetford
The Wolds Practice 01507 533233
Waddington
Cliff Villages Medical Practice 0844 8151800
Washingborough
Washingborough Surgery 0844 4994355
Welton
Welton Family Health Centre 0844 4773072
Wilingham by Stow
Willingham by Stow Surgery 01427 788277
Woodhall Spa
Tasburgh Lodge Surgery 01526 352466
New Surgery, Woodhall Spa 01526 353888
Wragby
The Wragby Surgery 01673 858206
