By Lauren Maughan

Last updated at 11:07, Saturday, 28 July 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 spokesman said: “The figures do not take account of the GP-led primary care assessment services which are provided at most of Cumbria’s hospitals.”

He added that a lack of interest from patients could have been why the opening hours had been reduced.

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

Dr Peter Weaving, from Brampton Medical Practice, explained that surgeries in Cumbria are catering for individual needs of patients.

“Practices in Cumbria are being flexible to the patient. At my surgery in Brampton we have a Saturday morning service, whereas I know Brunswick Medical Centre in Carlisle is open three nights a week.

“Although the figures may sound high we have a lot of practices with a small number of patients in Cumbria such as Glenridding Medical Health Centre.

“We also have community hospitals and primary care assessment services (PCAS), which means GPs are always available.

“When we opened practices for longer hours we found staff were just sat there twiddling their thumbs.”

Stanwix Urban councillor Jacquelyne Geddes, however, said she thought surgeries were not open long enough. “It’s difficult to get an appointment. I think they should be open on Saturdays and should be open for longer,” she said.

David Cameron said before the last election that patients should be able to get a GP appointment up until 8pm, seven days a week.

The NHS campaign was launched by Ed Miliband in May to address the issues in the NHS by speaking to doctors, nurses and patients. with the figures released being based on responses from the 91 out of 151 Primary Care Trusts to give an estimate for all of England.

First published at 10:52, Saturday, 28 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk