DOCTORS' surgeries in Petersfield and Liss have implemneted extended hours to cater for people who find it difficult to make appointments during the working week. The extra hours were introduced last Tuesday after Government proposals were put forward to help people who can't attend normal surgery opening times. Norman Boyes, the practice business manager at Petersfield's Swan Surgery in Swan Street, explained the changes. He said: "The benefit is essentially for those people who find it difficult to access surgeries during normal working hours, such as people who work nine to five. "Now there are times outside of those slots where they can get an appointment with a GP. "As well as the GP service, the reception will also be open for people to make general inquiries," he added. While the Government has not provided any extra cash to help cover the extra hours, Hampshire Primary Care Trust has said it will help out with the added reception costs. Mr Boyes said the out-of-hours service was currently contracted from 6.30pm to 8am at the Swan Street surgery as usual. He added that when the surgery was open for the extra hours it would only be for people who had booked appointments. The out-of-hours service would still be available, provided by Thamesdoc, who can be contacted on 020 8390 9990. Four surgeries in and around Petersfield have added extra appointment times. They are: n Swan Surgery, Petersfield: Monday evenings, from 6.30pm-8pm; Tuesday and Friday mornings, from 7am-8.30am; and Saturday mornings from 8am -11am; n Grange Surgery, Petersfield: Monday evenings, from 6.30pm-7.30pm; Friday mornings, from 7.30am-8.30am; and Saturday mornings, from 9am-10am; n Riverside Kelsey Surgery, Liss: Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6.30pm-8pm; and n Hillbrow Surgery, Liss: Monday and Wednesday evenings, from 6.30pm-7.30pm; Friday mornings, from 7am-8am; and the first Saturday morning of each month, from 8.45am-10.45am. The Government's proposals were announced earlier this year but received a unanimous vote of no confidence from doctors. Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of doctors trade union the British Medical Association's GPs committee, said: "It cannot be good to have such a key part of the health workforce feeling disengaged from the way the Government is handling the health service. "The effect can only be corrosive and in the long- term it is not a good way to get the best service for patients."
