GP practices across England will have to open to patients on Saturdays, according to reported new contracts.
Medical practices will also have to start offering weekday evening appointments.
A letter from NHS England has stated that GPs will need to provide ‘bookable appointments outside core hours within the Enhanced Access period’, which is between 6.30pm and 9pm on weekdays, and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.
The letter states that ‘a range of general practice services’ will need to be made available, including screenings, vaccinations and health checks.
Some practices will be able to provide Enhanced Access outside of these hours if that’s what is in line with patient needs in their area.
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GPs will have to see patients on Saturdays and weekday evenings. Credit: NHS England
The new hours will become mandatory from 1 October this year, though preparations will begin in April.
The provision of evening and weekend appointments was agreed upon in 2019, but the pandemic delayed it coming into place until now.
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The revised contract was sent out as a letter from the director of primary care and the medical director of primary care at NHS England and NHS Improvement.
The British Medical Association said it was ‘bitterly disappointed’ that appeals had been ignored.
Dr Farah Jameel, the union’s GP committee chair, said: “We are bitterly disappointed that NHS England has chosen to ignore the appeals from the profession and the needs of patients in today’s letter.
“Today’s letter, presented to us with only a few hours’ notice, defies everything we were aiming to achieve in building a constructive relationship and sits at odds with positive conversations with government.
“GPs and practices will see today’s changes as devaluing their goodwill and demolishing their spirit.”
Featured image: NHS England
News
Rising Manchester DJ issues heartfelt statement after Parklife set is cancelled over safety concerns
Daisy Jackson
Manchester DJ Josh Baker has issued a statement after his Parklife set was unexpectedly cancelled.
The rising star techno and house DJ was supposed to be playing on the brand-new Matinee stage on Sunday evening.
But his set attracted some huge crowds, not helped by the sudden downpour as his set was due to begin.
The area around Matinee became increasingly busy and Parklife announced that the Josh Baker performance would be paused on ‘the advice of safety team’.
Josh Baker has now issued a statement on social media to his followers as his Parklife set was due to end, signed off with a row of crying emojis.
He wrote: “Unfortunately I will not be performing at Parklife due to reason outside of my control.
Josh Baker has shared a statement after his Parklife set was cancelled. Credit: Instagram, @joshbaker
“I deeply apologise. I can’t really put into words what today was going to mean to me.”
Next on the Matinee stage should have been Chris Stussy, another name that was predicted to pull in a big crowd.
At the time of writing, The Matinee Stage remains closed but there are again large queues of fans waiting to re-enter the space.
Parklife pauses major DJ set on ‘advice of safety team’ as huge crowds swarm
Daisy Jackson
Parklife has announced it has paused one of the most hotly-tipped sets of the weekend ‘upon advice of the safety team’.
Josh Baker’s set on the brand-new Matinee stage has been attracting huge crowds from the late afternoon.
The Manchester-born DJ is a rising star in the tech and house scene and was always going to be a highlight of the festival’s line-up this year.
But his pull has maybe been a bit greater than expected, with massive crowds swarming around the Matinee stage on Sunday afternoon.
It’s been so busy that Parklife has made the decision to pause his show altogether while crowds disperse.
The warning sent on the Parklife appHow The Matinee stage looked on Saturday. Credit: The Manc Group
Security have been managing the crowds at the stage with a queue system, but when the heavens opened (and it REALLY rained at about 7pm) the area surrounding the Matinee stage became even busier.
Parklife has issued a statement on its app that reads: “Upon advice of the PL safety team, the show on the Matinee stage has been paused. We will update ASAP.”
Parklife has described Josh Baker as ‘a versatile DJ and producer, embodying the creative essence of the new wave of electronic artists’.
Daisy Jackson -
2nd March 2022 
