Rochdale NHS has best access for out of hours appointments in the north west

Dr Chris Duffy, NHS HMR CCG Chair and local GP

Rochdale has been ranked as having the best access to out of hours appointments in the whole north west, according to new figures.

The BBC has analysed the latest statistics, sourced from data provided by NHS England, collated bi-annually from surveys filled out by individual GP practices.

Across the NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commission Group (CCG), there are 233,125 patients registered at its 36 practices.

Of these, 100% of practices offer full access for pre-bookable appointments for out of hours services, with the local CCG also ranking highest in the north of England and one of the best in the whole country, alongside NHS Herefordshire and NHS Rushcliffe, which both also boast 100% of practices offering full provision.

Full provision means that patients have access to pre-bookable appointments on a Saturday and on Sundays and on each weekday for at least one-and-a-half hours; in the early morning before 8.00am, in the evening after 6.30pm or in both morning and evening; through the practice or a group of which the practice is a member.

The north of England also ranked higher than the national average, both for patients offered full provision (44%) and practices offering full provision (45%).

Nationally, 41% of GP practices in England offer full provision for extended access; appointments outside of normal working hours and weekends.

It also found 40% of patients were registered at a practice offering full provision to extended access.

Dr Chris Duffy, Chair of NHS HMR CCG and local GP said: “We are extremely pleased that our patients in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale are benefitting from more accessible GP services.

"We know that people struggle to fit in GP appointments with their busy family commitments and work schedules and by offering these pre-bookable appointments outside usual opening hours we are making it easier for people to see a GP at a more convenient time to suit them.  The service has been introduced to give patients more flexibility in where, when and how they can use local health services whilst also trying to relieve pressure on other NHS services.

“We are delighted to be ranked as having the best access to out of hours appointments in the North West and we are continually working with our partners to improve access to local services for our local residents.”