Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
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Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
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This article suggests GPs in Wales do not want to open on Saturday mornings. This is based on an interview with David Bailey (chairman GP committee Wales) who says, "The whole family-frien
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Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
posted at 26/9/2011 12:48 PM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 942
First: 10/9/2009 Last: 21/5/2013 |
This article suggests GPs in Wales do not want to open on Saturday mornings. This is based on an interview with David Bailey (chairman GP committee Wales) who says, "The whole family-friendly ethos means there's no appetite among GPs in Wales to start opening practices on Saturdays." Welsh GPs on doc2doc - what do you think? GPs outside Wales and the UK - what do you think? GPs who already open on weekends - what do you think? Should GPs be open on Saturday mornings? Should they be open all weekend? Does it depend on the population size? Is it about more than having weekends off? Would Saturday surgeries be more likely if there were more GPs? Or is cost an overlooked factor here? |
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Re: Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
posted at 26/9/2011 1:32 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1349
First: 25/1/2009 Last: 23/5/2013 |
For those who work during the week (such as teachers or bank staff) a trip to the GP for a routine issue (such as family planning) requires a booked day of annual leave - only to find that you cant get an appointment because they are all booked / you cant book until the day (and cant guarentee to be seen that day). Evening and weekend surgeries would open up access to the GP for those who work during the day. It was a major factor in choosing my current GP. The rest of the medical world have to provide cover round the clock, A&E doesn't shut at 5, nor do the wards, and some units offer daycase surgery on weekends now - why not the GPs |
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Re: Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
posted at 27/9/2011 8:10 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 20
First: 27/9/2011 Last: 13/1/2012 |
I totally agree with DrS: healthcare is a universal right, so why should it just be offered 9-5? If more GP's were open out of hours, surely it would reduce A and E attendances, for minor problems, and be much less expensive than out of hours GP services to organise. GP's have a great work:life balance, sacrificing an evening or half a weekend day every three weeks or so isn't too much to ask. |
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Re: Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
posted at 28/9/2011 11:54 AM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 682
First: 17/11/2008 Last: 19/5/2013 |
The answer to any question in medicine with the world all in it is always no. There may be smaller practices where this would be difficult but most practices should be open for the reasons given above. It is hard to stop patients going to A and E- research shows it is proximity to an A and E dept as much as anything that makes someone go there, But somehow if the perception of primary care in the Uk was that this is a 24 hour service then that could help reduce people both taking time off work to go to their GP and in pitching up to A and E |
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Re: Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
posted at 30/9/2011 1:13 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1
First: 30/9/2011 Last: 30/9/2011 |
Yes! Yes! and Yes!! I know or have heard so many people booking days of work so that they can go and see their GP because the GP doesn't offer services during weekends. Furthermore, the same applies to those in school or full time education. It would be interesting to hear from some of the people who have said no. In the time where the government is looking to make cuts everywhere to save money, I am not sure whether this would be 'cost-effective' overall. However, if the government wants to spend money on talking bins, as seen in local councils in Manchester, then surely pushing GP practices to open on the weekends is something that should be considered! |
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Re: Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
posted at 30/9/2011 3:51 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 59
First: 9/3/2009 Last: 9/11/2012 |
Yes of course GPs surgeries should be open on Saturdays. I was absolutely gobsmacked in 2004 when I learnt that we didn't have to do it any more.. There should of course be suitable remuneration as GPs have to pay their staff and if there is just one lone GP in a large practice the service that will be provided will be fairly mimimal. Of course it should be possible for small practices to team up to provide a service. I worked in Wales and there might be some areas where it is difficult, but these areas are also those a long way from any hospital. There have been horror stories of how patients have had to make huge journeys to access any sort of healthcare at weekends. The problem now will be providing the finance, as you cannot squeeze GPs' incomes any more. But it would be money well spent. |
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Re: Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
posted at 1/10/2011 6:06 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1
First: 1/10/2011 Last: 1/10/2011 |
In Response to Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?: This article suggests GPs in Wales do not want to open on Saturday mornings. This is based on an interview with David Bailey (chairman GP committee Wales) who says, "The whole family-friendly ethos means there's no appetite among GPs in Wales to start opening practices on Saturdays." Welsh GPs on doc2doc - what do you think? GPs outside Wales and the UK - what do you think? GPs who already open on weekends - what do you think? Should GPs be open on Saturday mornings? Should they be open all weekend? Does it depend on the population size? Is it about more than having weekends off? Would Saturday surgeries be more likely if there were more GPs? Or is cost an overlooked factor here? Posted by Sabreena GP surgeries in NZ are often open evenings and Saturday mornings. The patients love it, for convenience and the surgeries often run more smoothly than the normal working day ones. Also there are GPs who really like working these hours- usually the part timers or associates - who have babies and thier partners are home to do the childcare whilst they work. Also as a principal I enjoy my "morning off " during the normal working week, , then I start an afternoon surgery at 2pm which runs until 8pm, its a great day! Itvsaves $$ for businesses and self empoyed in terms of not having to pay for time -off for GP appointments. It should definitely be thought about. |
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Re: Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
posted at 1/10/2011 11:34 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 78
First: 15/8/2009 Last: 14/3/2013 |
In Response to Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?: This article suggests GPs in Wales do not want to open on Saturday mornings. This is based on an interview with David Bailey (chairman GP committee Wales) who says, "The whole family-friendly ethos means there's no appetite among GPs in Wales to start opening practices on Saturdays." Welsh GPs on doc2doc - what do you think? GPs outside Wales and the UK - what do you think? GPs who already open on weekends - what do you think? Should GPs be open on Saturday mornings? Should they be open all weekend? Does it depend on the population size? Is it about more than having weekends off? Would Saturday surgeries be more likely if there were more GPs? Or is cost an overlooked factor here? Posted by Sabreena Why not? The GPs do not do s many things that a family physician is expected to do. The ordinary waiting time for appointed is quite artificially established. One has to sit in the surgery observing how wasteful certain aspects of its function can be. If the patient has no access to his/her primary physician when he or she is needed then they …??? |
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Re: Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?
posted at 2/10/2011 9:07 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 4
First: 2/10/2011 Last: 10/1/2013 |
In Response to Re: Should all GP surgeries be open on Saturday mornings?: For those who work during the week (such as teachers or bank staff) a trip to the GP for a routine issue (such as family planning) requires a booked day of annual leave - only to find that you cant get an appointment because they are all booked / you cant book until the day (and cant guarentee to be seen that day). Evening and weekend surgeries would open up access to the GP for those who work during the day. It was a major factor in choosing my current GP. The rest of the medical world have to provide cover round the clock, A&E doesn't shut at 5, nor do the wards, and some units offer daycase surgery on weekends now - why not the GPs Posted by DrS Only that when I used to work saturday mornings I found mostly retired people booked in and also the ones at work were more likely to DNA their appointments !! Same for early morning surgeries ! |
