PATIENTS will be able to get an appointment with a doctor at the evening and weekend over winter following the launch of a new GP service this month.

As health chiefs look to take more pressure off the county's stretched A&E departments, GP access hubs will offer extended hours during which people can book a routine appointment to see a doctor or practice nurse.

Oxfordshire's winter director of health and care service, Tehmeena Ajmal, said the service is aimed at reducing the number of patients visiting A&E during one of the busiest times of year, while also creating more availability at GP surgeries during daytime hours.

Ms Ajmal said: "GP access hubs offer patients appointments at more convenient times, if they work late or have other commitments.

"It means patients can see a GP, or other appropriate medical professional, for advice and treatment promptly at a time that suits them even though it may not be at their own surgery.

"It could prevent a condition from getting worse this winter and could free up practice time for GPs to see more vulnerable patients, especially older people, reducing the risk of them being admitted to A&E.”

She added: “As we enter the busy winter period the scheme will help to relieve some of the pressure that practices are experiencing during usual opening hours, helping GPs to meet the increasing demand for appointments."

The county-wide scheme will be overseen by the four GP Federations in Oxfordshire, which will each manage the hubs in their area.

The GP access hubs will operate out of existing surgeries on a rota basis throughout the winter.

Patients can book an appointment through their own surgery where staff will then advise on the available extended hours appointment times and also the location of the hub.

This may not be at the patient’s own practice but will be nearby.

The four federations are the Abingdon Federation covering South West Oxfordshire; OxFed covering Oxford City; Principal Medical Limited (PML) which covers the North, North East, West and part of the South West locality; and SEOX which covers the South East Oxfordshire Federation.

The access hubs are separate to the out-of-hours and ‘walk in’ services.

In August the annual GP Survey revealed that more than a quarter of Oxfordshire patients wanting to see their family doctor were forced to wait a week or more for an appointment.

While last year Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the county's major A&E units at the John Radcliffe and Horton Hospitals declared a 'black alert' in January with bosses at the time admitting the trust was struggling to cope with demand.

The most recent A&E figures for October show 89.6 per cent of patients are seen within the four hour NHS standard - an improvement on 82.1 per cent in October 2017 though the NHS says trusts should treat at least 95 per cent of patients in that time frame.

Ms Ajmal added: “As we enter the busy winter period the scheme will help to relieve some of the pressure that practices are experiencing during usual opening hours, helping GPs to meet the increasing demand for appointments."

For more information on the new GP Access Hubs and also advice on how to stay well this winter visit www.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk