A NUMBER of Ryedale doctors’ surgeries are set to increase their opening hours to include evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

From October 1, surgeries including those in Pickering, Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside and Terrington will deliver additional routine and pre-booked appointments with a range of clinicians, including doctors, nurses and other staff, seven days a week.

The new service was announced by NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) after it awarded a three-year contract for extended primary care services in the north to NHS organisation Modality Partnership.

On awarding the contract, Dr Kevin Smith, the CCG’s executive director of primary care and population health, said: “This contract award to Modality Partnership is another step towards a very exciting journey that is transforming the delivery of local healthcare.

“The CCG is delighted that its investment will give even more Vale of York patients access to primary care services in the evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays from early autumn 2018.”

According to the CCG, the new partnership between local doctors’ surgeries and Modality Partnership will “open up opportunities for innovation and introduce new ways of providing healthcare services”.

The new service aims to give patients more choice and flexibility in terms of appointment types, offering face-to-face consultations, telephone consultations, and also video consultations online to provide more convenient access to GP services.

Dr Sarah Utting, a local GP from the north locality of the Vale of York, said: “We recognise that many people would like the flexibility of being able to book additional appointments at times outside the traditional GP surgery hours of 8am to 6pm on weekdays.

“This new service will extend the provision of primary care in our area and we hope patients will find it valuable.”

Vincent Sai, chief executive officer at Modality Partnership, added: “We consider this chance to work in partnership with the local practices as a fantastic opportunity to provide improved access for patients.

“We also welcome the prospect of sharing our positive learning from our work elsewhere in the country.

“We plan to showcase a new model of care, which we know will be integral to achieving successful patient outcomes and supporting system-wide benefits.”

Further details of changes to opening hours and the new service will be available to local patients via their doctors’ surgery.