More than 40 doctors’ surgeries across the Bradford district will be open on Saturdays in January and patients are encouraged to use them rather than put extra strain on already busy accident and emergency departments.

The 44 practices will be open, mainly during the morning and early afternoons, tomorrow and on January 11, 18 and 25, thanks to funding from Bradford City and Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).

The move is part of the NHS Stay Well campaign and instead of waiting at A&E with an urgent health problem, patients should check if their practice is open and get an appointment there.

Some practices routinely open on Saturdays, but during January more people will be able to access urgent healthcare from their local surgery.

Dr Aamer Khan, urgent care lead for Bradford City CCG, said: “Patients of practices which are not open will still be able to access urgent care through the NHS 111 service, instead of waiting at A&E when they don’t need to.

“Demand on emergency services increases dramatically at this time of year, so it is important that patients stop and think, ‘does this injury or illness really require emergency treatment?’ “Many winter health problems can be solved by staying at home and taking over-the-counter cold and flu remedies. Unnecessary trips to A&E not only put a strain on NHS resources, but also put others lives at risk.”

The CCGs said were many different ways people could help themselves get the right treatment, including self-care and having a well-stocked medicine cabinet, visiting a chemist, seeing their GP, calling 111, or calling 999 or visiting A&E in emergencies.

People can also go to nhsstaywell.org – a new website which is an easy-to-access resource for a range of information, aimed at helping people enjoy good health during the winter.

The surgeris opening on Saturdays during January are:

Avicenna, Barkerend Health Centre (9am to 1pm); City Practice, Whetley Health Centre (9.30am to 11.30am, 12.30pm to 2.30pm); Clarendon Health Centre (9am to 1pm); Dr Akbar, Barkerend Health Centre (9.30am to 1.30pm); Dr Gilkar, Little Horton Lane (10am to 2pm); Dr Iqbal, Kensington St Health Centre (8.30am to 2.30pm); Dr Malik, Barkerend Health Centre (8am to 12.30pm); Dr Mall, Little Horton Lane (9am to 1pm); Dr Wilson, Kensington St Health Centre (9am to 1pm); Family Practice, Whetley Health Centre (9.30am to 11.30am, 12.30pm to 2.30pm); Frizinghall (9am to 1pm); Lister Practice, Westbourne Green Health Centre (9.30am to 11.30am, 12.30pm to 2.30pm); Park Grange (10am to 2pm); Parkside, Horton Park Health Centre (9am to 1pm); Peel Park, Undercliffe Health Centre (8am to 12pm); Picton, Westbourne Green Health Centre (8.30am to 12.30pm); Primrose Surgery (10am to 2pm); University Medical Centre (8am to 12pm); Valley View, Undercliffe Health Centre (9am to 1pm); Ashcroft (9.30am to 1.30pm); Bingley Medical Practice (8am to 2pm); Bowling Hall (8.30am to 12.30pm); Bradford Moor, Barkerend Health Centre (9am to 1pm); Dr Fenwick, Woodroyd Centre (9am to 1pm); Dr Hamdani, Eccleshill Village Surgery (8.30am to 12.30pm); Dr Longfield, Woodroyd Centre – first week (8am to 12pm), remaining weeks (9am to 1pm); Heaton Medical Practice (9am to 1.30pm); Idle (8am to 2pm); Leylands (Wrose branch) (9am to 3pm); Low Moor (8am to 12pm); Mayfield (8.30am to 12.30pm); Moorside Surgery (9am to 3pm); Parklands (9am to 3pm); The Ridge (8am to 2pm); Rockwell & Wrose (8.30am to 12.30pm); Saltaire (8am to 2pm); Shipley (9am to 1pm); Springfield (9am to 1pm); The Grange (8.45am to 12.45pm); Thornton (8.30am to 12.30pm); Tong (8am to 12pm); Westcliffe (8am to 2pm); Wilsden (8am to 12pm); Windhill (8am to 2pm)