80,000 patients in Basildon set to benefit from seven day a week GP service

MORE than 80,000 residents will be able to see a doctor at weekends and evenings thanks to a new trial scheme starting today.

Basildon and Brentwood Clinical Commissioning Group is rolling out seven day appointments in a trial.

Fifteen practices have signed up to the scheme, which will see patients able to make appointments at weekends at two practices in Basildon.

As a result there will be an extra 550 GP and 190 nurse appointments a week.

Dr Nehal Ahmad, GP at Ballards Walk Surgery who is leading the project, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to provide our patients with more choice, convenience and flexibility when accessing local healthcare services.

“Patients can now book GP appointments up to 8pm weekdays and 8am – 8pm at weekends and public holidays.”

The service will be operating from Noak Bridge Medical Centre and Ballards Walk Surgery 6.30pm until 8pm Monday to Friday, and 8am until 8pm weekends and public holidays.

Basildon and Thurrock University Trust will also be used 8am until 8pm at weekends and public holidays.

Patients wishing to access the service should telephone their practice on their normal practice number.

The project was awarded £1.52m of the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund.

A spokesman for the commissioning group said: “A group of 15 of our practices successfully bid for the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund to increase access to GPs.

“The service will cover over 80,000 people and provide an additional 550 GP and 190 nurse appointments per week.

Initially the service will run from three sites across the Basildon area.”

The trial scheme follows the success of a similar weekend service in Castle Point and Rochford.

Laindon Health Centre already offers appointments on a Saturday between 8.45am and 12.45pm with the Knares Medical Practice also offering a Saturday service between 8am and 10.45am.