Doc's 'no' to more hours plan

Feb 7 2008

TWO-thirds of GPs will reject plans to add three hours on average to their working week, a poll out today suggests.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has written to all GPs in England explaining why he wants surgeries to open at weekends and in the evenings.

Significant numbers of patients have told his department that opening at more convenient times should be a priority for the NHS, he said.

But doctors point to last year's Mori poll of more than two million patients which revealed 84 per cent were happy with their practice's opening hours.

Doctors also believe patients who use their surgeries the most would lose out and have accused the Government of trying to move the goalposts over the GP contract.

Today, a poll of 350 GPs for GP newspaper found that 65 per cent would reject the offer.

Almost a third (29 per cent) would accept under protest while six per cent would accept.

If GPs do not accept the changes, cash could be given to primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission services to meet needs, including from private companies.