Access to family doctors is an increasing source of frustration for many, many people in the Bradford district.

So many of us have been in the situation of requiring a doctor's appointment but being told that advance bookings are impossible, and that the only way to secure a face-to-face chat with a GP is to ring up on the day.

But, unless you begin ringing at 8am and persevere until you get through, those appointments very quickly fill up and the doctor's diary can be full within a few minutes of the surgery opening.

It's especially problematic for those who have to work and who must take what time they're given from the doctor's surgery - provided they can get through in the first place.

So the idea of more surgeries opening up for Saturday morning consultations is one that will be welcomed by many people, especially those who work full-time during the week.

The idea is that opening up at the weekends will take some pressures off the accident and emergency departments at hospitals, where people who are feeling ill might present themselves at the weekends in the absence of a doctor's appointment being possible.

It is true that many people turn up at casualty with minor ailments, but most of them presumably do so because they don't know where else to turn, rather than out of any desire to increase the workload in emergency rooms.

Still, casualty is for emergencies, not lesser illnesses, and taking up their time could mean the difference between life and death for someone in real need.

It's a shame that the Saturday GP surgeries are just for winter; perhaps if they prove incredibly popular then our doctors will have a rethink and make them more permanent.