MedEconomics: Extended Access - How to... extend surgery opening hours.

Our scheme costs came to pounds 6,000 a year and involves the whole practice team, say Dr Peter Smith and Susie Puffett.

Our practice in Kingston, Surrey took a corporate decision to extend opening hours using our existing resources. The surgery opens 12 hours a day until 8pm, Mondays to Thursdays. On Fridays we close at 6pm and on Saturdays, patients are seen from 9am until 11.30am. This is how it worked for us.

Decide the ground rules

Be clear that as a practice you wish to extend opening hours. Arrange meetings with staff to ensure they understand that this new way of working may well make their life easier. Make sure all staff know that no one will be expected to work a 12-hour shift, or unless …