GP time cure

Published on Monday 8 February 2010 20:19

There is a simple solution to the problem of out-of-hours medical service cover (your report, 8 February). If GP surgeries opened from 6am–8pm Monday to Friday, the strain on out-of-hours services would be greatly reduced.

The buildings would operate more efficiently, there would be fewer problems with parking and patients would be able to get appointments without taking time off work.

Two shifts, with staggered meal breaks, running from 6am–2pm and noon–8pm, would also help to provide the opportunity for lunch-hour appointments for patients who work locally.

Medical staff would only have a 35-hour week.

Alternating the shifts daily instead of week by week would allow staff to finish at 2pm one day and not start until noon the next day, which means they would have 22 hours off on alternate days, as well as the weekend, which may be more attractive than the traditional working week.

PETER JEFFREY

Market Street

Musselburgh