12th June 2015
Local CCG leaders have cancelled their seven-day access pilot scheme after just four months in operation: Only ten appointments were made in spite of ‘considerable promotion’. NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby – one of the first areas funded by the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund – will end the scheme on 30th June. CCG leaders have cited diminishing returns and wasting resources, with few appointments filled across Saturday and Sunday hours. Now, many other CCGs are reflecting on the cost-effectiveness and demand of their pilots. The first wave of Challenge Fund pilots was funded by a £50m grant, with the second rolled out this year to £100m, trialling extended access for one year.
Commenting on the decision, taken ‘following ongoing evaluation’, CCG clinical lead Dr Vicky Pleydell said it was taken due to unpopularity among patients. “Despite considerable promotion, including through the GPs surgeries when booking, only 12% of appointments on Sundays were filled and less than 50% of slots booked on a Saturday. It was also interesting to note that many patients did not want to book appointments at surgeries other than their own which does show that the ‘hub’ model of delivery was not popular and something we need to consider moving forward. It is vital that we use resources given to us effectively for the benefit of local patients and this nationally funded pilot has been successful in showing us that our resources are better spent on other initiatives.”
Chief executive of the Heartbeat Alliance Stephen Brown remarked upon the scheme, run as a pilot “to establish if there was a demand for more GP appointments, especially out of normal working hours and at weekends. As such it was very useful in establishing that local demand is already being met and that people are broadly happy with the hours their local GP surgery is currently open.”
GPC deputy chair Dr Richard Vautrey continued: “I think it is evidence that what might be suitable for urban areas isn’t suitable at all for a rural area. So a one-size-fits-all, seven-day service policy across England, with a London-centric view, doesn’t match the reality on the ground.”
A DH report on Manchester’s seven-day access pilot, used as a blueprint of the scheme by the Prime Minister, did show a 3% reduction in A&E attendances, but had little effect on patient satisfaction.