Leeds GPs To Extend Opening Hours

There's some good news for people in Leeds who are struggling to get doctors appointments. Practices in West Leeds have announced that they're extending their opening hours. Appointments will now be offered from 7 in the morning until 8 o clock at night on selected days, with extended weekend opening on both Saturday and Sunday on the way in the New Year. Simon Stockill's a Headingley GP and is the medical director of the Leeds West Clinical Commissioning Group and says it's not just patients who've wanted this, "It's been called for by GPs for quite a long time as well. To open surgeries longer hours requires additional staff, requires additional funding. But we're dlighted than in Leeds West we've committed upto £8m over the next 18 months to help support our 38 practices in the area to open for longer hours. "GP practices are small corner shop businesses, and it's a little bit like trying to change the corner shop mentality into something like Sainsbury's Local. A bit bigger, but still maintains that friendly, personal service - people who you know, people who your recognise who can provide that good continuity of care, but at hours that are more convenient."