GPs across Basingstoke and the UK will have to offer Saturday and evening appointments under new plans announced by the NHS.

Practices across the county will have to begin offering appointments from 6.30pm until 8pm on weekdays and from 9am until 5pm on Saturdays under the plans announced in a letter to all GPs from NHS chiefs.

The new hours will come into force from October 1 this year so that surgeries offer "enhanced access" as part of their contracts and more face-to-face appointments.

We asked the Gazette readers if they would like to see their GP offer weekday evening and weekend appointments for patients.

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Unsurprisingly, the majority of the readers said they would like to have the extended services.

One reader wrote: “Yes [GPs should operate during weekends]. Plus, a return to face-to-face appointments. Even if it’s only to catch up on the backlog. Hospitals, supermarkets, etc. have had to work as normal throughout Covid, so why are doctors still not seeing people?”

Another resident wrote: “Of course! They should be flexible for those people who work out of town and can't get time off work to attend during 'standard' surgery times.

“Other sectors - even their own colleagues in the NHS - work less sociable hours successfully, so why shouldn't GP surgeries work in the same way?”

Many readers complained that they do not even have weekday appointments, and hence the weekend consultations would be a stretch.

One reader wrote: “Any appointments would be good, to be honest! It's like mission impossible trying to see a doctor face to face.

“The amount of people who have been misdiagnosed over the phone (myself included) is ridiculous. I rang and rang and kept getting fobbed off until I rang Hants doc who sent me straight to A&E - resulting in a hospital stay.”

Another resident recalled that weekend and evening services used to be normal before the GPs a long time ago.

“GPs used to offer all of these, with surgeries morning and evening, as well as Saturday mornings, and appointments you could book in advance with a GP of your choice for follow-up or routine tests.

“We also used to have access to on-call doctors during the night, and an out-of-hours walk-in at the hospital.

“So, yes, if they managed to provide services in the past, it should be possible to offer them now.”

But, one resident wondered if the GPs have the resources to cover

evening and weekend shifts.

“If they have the staff and GPs to do it, yes, but they are already under pressure and will be to reduce the backlog so it may be impossible unless they can fund it.”

Another resident was more considerate towards the “overworked” GP staff.

“Not fair on the current GPs who currently are worked off their feet. The only solution is to have a massive recruiting campaign and so to even the load. Not an overnight fix but it's the only way forward.”

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Another resident even gave a solution to the problem. He wrote: “It should be done on a rota. Like nurses in hospital have to do – weekend on with days off during the week. Then work during the week, with a weekend off. They may find having a GP service seven days a week reduces the weekly appointments and helps with unnecessary A&E visits. Surely this is worth a try."

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