Shropshire GP surgery to open 12 hours a day
A doctor's surgery will open for 12 hours a day, it was announced today.
Ludlow's Station Drive Surgery, one of two GP practices in the town, has announced the move to take effect immediately.
It comes as building work gets under way to expand the practice, which is due to be complete in September.
From this week, the opening hours will be from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, one and half hours longer than the previous 8.30am to 6pm opening.
No new doctors have yet been taken on at the five GP surgery, but more reception staff have been employed to allow the longer hours to go ahead.
Dr David Partridge, one of three partners, said the change would provide flexibility for patients and give doctors more time to prepare prescriptions, review test results and liaise with hospitals and consultants.
The change has been made as doctors and nurses found that early morning appointments were not popular, but that patients like to be able to see a doctor in the evening, he said.
The move comes ahead of the expected completion of work to expand the surgery in a month's time. Fellow partner Dr James Harris said: "The building work started in January and we were aiming for a completion date in June, unfortunately the deadline has had to be extended.
"We are now looking to complete the building works by September.
"While we will make every effort to limit the disruption to normal surgery routines, it will unfortunately be necessary on health and safety grounds to close the surgery car park to patients for the duration of the works.
"We apologise for the inconvenience the closure may cause, but we appreciate your patience during this time of change."
The work will create new consulting rooms, improved reception and waiting areas and better training facilities for medical students.
Once the expansion is complete, the surgery hopes to take on more trainee GPs.
Expansion work has also been taking place at the town's Portcullis Surgery, which will have four new rooms, including one for an extra GP, a dedicated counselling room, a minor procedures room and a private office for patients to meet with the practice management team, as well as an improved waiting room with better disabled access and a separate children's area.
Portcullis Surgery is open 8.30am to 6pm, but has extended hours from 6.30pm to 7.45pm on Monday and 6.30am to 7.45am on Friday.
