Manchester patients can continue to enjoy seven-day access to their GPs thanks to a £500,000 cash injection from health commissioners hoping to slash hospital admissions.
Central Manchester Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is forking out the money after NHS England withdraw its funding due to financial constraints and limited evidence of a reduction in hospital admissions.
Dr Ivan Benett, clinical lead at Central Manchester CCG, said that data comparisons reveal that hospital attendances were reduced by about 2.3% year on year but conceded that it was too early to indicate whether the figures would remain consistent.
The decision to extend the service has been criticised by the Local Medical Committee (LMC).
Dr Tracey Vell, honorary secretary at Manchester LMC, said: “I feel money could be spent on a more inventive solution with more evidence base.”
The CCG defended their plans, with Dr Benett suggesting the service could become self-funding if hospital admissions continued to fall at the same rate.
“If we can sustain that sort of reduction in activity, if we can demonstrate that, then it will become self-sustaining,” he said.
With the additional funding from the CCG, the seven-day GP service will now be available in the area until March 2015.
Picture courtesy of Alex E. Proimos, with thanks
