Published at 11:05, Thursday, 02 August 2012

PATIENTS could be experiencing a longer wait to see their doctor after it was revealed GP opening hours in Cumbria are reducing.

Cumbria’s primary care trust has had one of the largest reductions in GP surgery opening times in the country since last year, meaning fewer late-night and weekend appointments are being offered.

The newly-published figures are a result of Labour’s NHS check which revealed that GP’s opening hours in Cumbria saw a reduction of 13.3 per cent in the year 2011/12 compared to 2010/11. In 2010/11, a total of 69 out of 85 GP surgeries offered late-night and weekend extended hours, compared to just 55 out of 81 in the year 2011/12.

An NHS Cumbria spokes-man said: “The figures do not take account of the GP-led primary care assessment services which are provided at most of Cumbria’s hospitals.

“Where any reduction in extended hours does occur, this is usually due to poor take-up of a service by patients.”

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk