GP practices in England’s primary care networks (PCNs) will be required to open on Saturdays and also offer evening appointments under a contract update, according to reports.
The changes include a requirement for GPs in primary care networks (PCNs) to open from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and 6.30 pm to 8 pm weekday evenings under new local arrangements.
Although some practices across the country already offer late-night or weekend services, it will become mandatory for GPs to provide a ‘range of general practice services’ from October 1st this year according to NHS England.
The appointments – which must be bookable in advance or on the same day – must be a ‘mixture of in-person face-to-face and remote’ , with a ‘reasonable number’ of face-to-face consultations available.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has said it is “bitterly disappointed” with NHS England’s decision to impose changes to the GP contract without the union’s agreement.
This news comes on the back of Health Secretary Sajid Javid ordering doctors to offer more face-to-face appointments as Covid restrictions ease with recent data revealing just 60 per cent of consultations in January were held in-person, down 61 per cent in December.
