INCREASING numbers of GP surgeries in Bradford are moving to Saturday morning openings for the duration of the winter to help patients and take pressure of accident and emergency staff, who are facing increased demand.

Many people opt to attend A&E departments for illnesses where they would normally visit their doctor if the symptoms emerge 'out of hours'.

Medical chiefs in Bradford have recognised that and responded, with the Bradford City and Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Groups, along with NHS England, making money available to practices which opt to open on Saturday mornings.

The arrangement will go on until March, to cover the winter months when levels of illness are normally at a higher than normal level.

The move is part of the NHS Stay Well campaign and comes at a time when A&E departments nationally have seen demand for their services rise.

Now the NHS is advising patients to check whether an appointment is available at their practice before turning up at A&E with urgent health problems.

Dr Aamer Khan, urgent care lead for Bradford City CCG, said: “It’s really good news that so many practices in Bradford are opening on Saturday mornings throughout the winter, which is the busiest time of the year for the NHS.

"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?

COMMENT: SATURDAY GP SURGERIES TO BE WELCOMED

"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,” he said.

Some medical practices in Bradford now open as a matter of routine on Saturday mornings in addition to the extra appointments being made available over the winter.

Details of which practices in Bradford City and Districts CCGs are open on Saturday mornings, until the end of March next year, are available on the Bradford CCGs’ websites bradfordcityccg.nhs.uk or bradforddistrictsccg.nhs.uk

Details will also be on practices' own websites and in reception areas.

CITY SURGERIES OPEN ON SATURDAYS

Bradford City practices – all 9am to 11.30am every Saturday except *Mughal Medical Centre:

  • Avicenna, Barkerend Health Centre 01274 664464;
  • Bradford Student Health Service 01274 371380 – Patients will be seen at Little Horton Lane Medical Centre;
  • City Practice, Whetley Health Centre 01274 256213;
  • Clarendon Health Centre 01274 736996;
  • Dr Akbar, Barkerend Health Centre 01274 663553;
  • Dr Bavington, Kensington St Health Centre 01274 496433;
  • Dr Gilkar, Little Horton Lane 01274 731700;
  • Dr Iqbal, Kensington St Health Centre, 01274 499209 – patients will be seen at Little Horton Lane Medical Centre;
  • Dr Malik, Moor Park Surgery, Barkerend Health Centre 01274 778400;
  • Dr Mall, Little Horton Lane 01274 721924;
  • Family Practice (Whetley Health Centre) 01274 544915;
  • Frizinghall 01274 495577;
  • Grange Medical Centre, Horton Grange Road 01274 957908;
  • Hillside Bridge (LCD) 01274 777517;
  • Lister Practice, Westbourne Green Health Centre 01274 202495;
  • Manningham (LCD) 01274 724418;
  • *Mughal Medical Centre 01274 504425 – (10am to 1pm);
  • Parkside Medical Centre, Horton Park 01274 521111 – patients will be seen at Little Horton Lane Medical Centre;
  • Park Grange 01274 522904;
  • Peel Park, Undercliffe Health Centre 01274 634989;
  • Picton, Westbourne Green 01274 202500;
  • Primrose Surgery, Hillside Bridge 01274 729602;
  • Valley View, Undercliffe Health Centre 01274 637115.