GP surgeries across west London are opening seven days a week in a bid to alleviate pressure on A&Es.

Several GPs are now working on weekends to try to ensure patients who are not in need of emergency care do not block up already overstretched A&E departments .

Patients will not have to be registered if they need to go to any of the surgeries open over weekends, and some will allow walk-ins.

Ealing and Hounslow GPs will be working on a rotating basis, with patients needing to call 111 to find out where to go, while Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster and Hammersmith and Fulham will have specific GP surgeries open every weekend.

Brent and Hillingdon patients will have to contact their GPs to find out if they can get weekend or evening appointments.

NHS bosses are urging people to remember GPs will be open on weekends, as well as Urgent Care Centres (UCCs) in most west London hospitals, where those with illnesses and injuries needing immediate attention can be seen without an appointment if they are not life-threatening. UCCs are open 24/7, every day of the year. (See table below for where they are)

The need for GPs to work on weekends comes after serious backlogs at A&Es across England have built up and waiting times have soared during the winter pressure months.

The NHS has a clear message: do not go to A&E if if it is not an emergency - and it is hoping by having GP surgeries open at weekends, patients will listen to this.

A spokeswoman from the North West London collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: “As we have seen, A&Es find themselves under increased pressure during the winter months. We know that many patients attend A&E when their illness is not life-threatening.

“We have increased access to GPs for people in west London so that they can be treated locally and conveniently in a GP practice on Saturdays and Sundays. We would encourage all residents to use NHS services wisely and choose the correct care for their need to help relieve pressure on A&E services.”

Meanwhile, nine west London Labour MPs have sent health minister Jeremy Hunt a letter urging him to halt any more closures or downgradings of hospitals in the area , in light of the current A&E crisis.

How it will work in your borough:

  • Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Harrow have specific surgeries open at the weekend (see table below).
  • Different surgeries in Hounslow and Ealing will be open each weekend - call NHS 111 to find out your nearest open one.
  • Brent GPs are offering additional appointments at different surgeries if patients cannot be seen in 48 hours, with appointments available until 9pm on weekday evenings and on Saturday from 9am to 3pm. This will be arranged through patients’ GP practices.
  • Hillingdon GPs are offering extended weekday opening hours ranging from 7.30am to 8.30pm and some surgeries will be open on Saturday. Patients have to speak to their GPs to find out.

For more information go to rightcarenwlondon.nhs.uk

 

West London GP surgeries open at weekends

Hammersmith and Fulham Harrow Kensington and Chelsea Westminster
Brook Green Medical Centre 9am-4pm Alexander Avenue Walk-in Service 8am-3.30pm Knightsbridge Medical Centre 9am-5pm The Connaught Square Practice 10am-6pm
Cassidy Medical Centre 9am-4pm The Pinn Medical Centre 9am-7.30pm Barlby Surgery 9am-5pm Pimlico Health at the Marven Surgery 10am-6pm
Palace Surgery 9am-4pm   Earls Court Medical Centre The Third Floor Lanark Medical Centre 10am-6pm
Dr Jefferies and Partners 9am-4pm   Colville Health Centre 9am-5pm North West London Medical Centre 8am-4pm
Parkview Practice (Dr Canisius and Dr Hasan) 9am-4pm   Earls Court Health and Wellbeing Centre. Sat only 9am-noon  

Urgent Care Centres

Brent/Harrow Central Middlesex Hospital Northwick Park (border of Harrow and Brent)
Ealing Ealing Hospital  
Hammersmith and Fulham Charing Cross Hospital Hammersmith Hospital
Hillingdon Hillingdon Hospital  
Hounslow West Middlesex Hospital  
Kensington and Chelsea Chelsea and Westminster Hospital  
Westminster St Mary's Hospital