Extended hours may be enhanced service.(Brief article)

The DoH appears to have backtracked on its plan to swap 60 clinical quality points for extended hours, saying now that services will be commissioned locally.

The GPC and NHS Employers are in negotiation about whether extended hours should be funded as an enhanced service, wiht national or directed services still as options.

Mark Britnell, director general for commissioning and system management in the NHS, told the National Association of Primary Care conference on service redesign in primary care in London last week that all services would be locally commissioned.

'It's time for PCTs to step up to the plate,' he said.

He added that …