On Tue 29 Dec, Iain L M Hotchkies wrote:

> I'd be quite prepared to open over the holidays, but I'd only want
> to do so if my partners did their fair share. I'm not saying they
> wouldn't... on a public forum.
> 
> I was in the supermarket at 1530h on Christmas Eve, and I was in
> Manchester's Magnificent (!) Trafford Centre at 1000h on Boxing
> Day (I won't bore you with details). It has become a fact of life
> that people work longer, less-sociable hours.
> 
> There exist strong arguments for GPs to work 9to5. Persuading
> someone who does the 0000h-0800h shift at the local all-night
> petrol station that we are hard done by might prove rather er
> challenging.


The trouble is we would have to pay our staff (presumably at bank
holiday rates) and, for those with a cash-limited staff budget, fund
the lot ourselves. Despite the potential to offset Deputising / Co-op
costs, this represents a significant financial disincentive.

Might it be worth putting a bid in to your PCG's Primary Care
Investment Plan for additional staff funding specifically to cover
bank holiday opening? The argument for funding is that offering
extended GP services could take pressure off the Co-op and hospital
sector services at times of acute pressure (such as over the
Millenium holiday).

Ironically, you might find such a bid challenged by the HA, who could
ask for hard evidence. This would be difficult to produce, even
prospectively. However, given the pressure the acute sector has been
under in Nottm, Manch and elsewhere over the Xmas hols I think they'd
be more likely to view this as a welcome (and inexpensive) initiative.


Trims.


-- 
Dr Ian Trimble                        http://www.sherwood.demon.co.uk/


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%