GP access: open all hours?

It's usually the first port of call whenever you're feeling under the weather - but if the recent media coverage is to be believed, getting an appointment with your GP is often easier said than done.

Busy phone lines jammed from 8am as people try to book same-day appointments can leave you feeling frustrated and helpless, as you're told you must wait until later in the week to see a doctor.

This usually means that you'll have to take the first available appointment, whatever the day or time, resulting in the inconvenience of having to rearrange work and family commitments to accommodate it.

But a delay in getting treatment can affect more than just your diary, as the longer you wait for a diagnosis, the more time you may need to take off work.

A recent patient survey carried out by the NHS revealed that 28 per cent of people were unable to book an appointment with their GP in advance - and that 19 per cent of those who could, were not seen within 48 hours.

So what can you do if you need to speak to a GP but can't get an appointment quickly?

The Government is advising practices to extend their working hours in order to allow you, the patient, access to treatment around the clock.

The Department of Health has been placing enormous pressure on Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and Strategic Health Associations across the country to sign up to a designated extended hours service and to spend their full 2010/11 budget of £161 million on improving access.

However, with the recent economic downturn leaving much of the public sector in financial turmoil, the Department of Health's proposals have not been adhered to by everyone, as Dr Richard Vautrey, Deputy Chairman of the GP Committee explained.

"At a time when PCTs around the country are under severe financial pressure, I suspect that few will have the necessary resources to make either of these suggestions work," he said.

And he could well be right.

The latest figures from the Department of Health show that almost 23 per cent of GP practices across the UK are not offering extended opening hours to patients.

And, according to the Daily Telegraph, the areas that do provide extra appointments are being swamped by the estimated nine million of us that require out-of-hours treatment across England each year.

The newspaper claimed that, on average, just one GP was on call for every 154,000 people between midnight and 8am.

So, with out-of-hours services apparently under heavy strain and many patients unable to get an urgent appointment with their GP, where else can you go for treatment?

Numerous other out-of-hours facilities are available, from NHS walk in centres to Accident and Emergency departments - but knowing where to go and who to see can often be confusing.

Most of Westfield Health's cash plans include a 24-hour GP telephone consultation service, enabling policyholders and their resident family members to speak to a fully-qualified, practising GP at any time of the day or night, and from anywhere in the world.

By calling the helpline, you can arrange for a GP to call you back, at a time that's convenient to you. The GP can take into account your previous medical history and often provide you with a diagnosis and recommended course of action.

A report from your telephone consultation can then be forwarded to your own GP for your records if required.

The service can complement the work of GPs by providing patients with immediate access to advice around the clock.