DOCTORS’ surgeries are facing calls to make their opening hours more flexible after a survey found almost one in five people find their current arrangements inconvenient.

New statistics say 16 per cent of residents in south Worcestershire – about 47,500 people – find it tough to fit a trip to see their GP around their busy schedule of work and family commitments.

The analysis has been conducted nationally by the Labour party and is based on the results of the latest national GP patient survey, conducted between July 2012 and March this year.

It found that, in the Worcester area, three-quarters of those unhappy with the present arrangements would like to see surgeries extend hours to include evenings and Saturdays, while 31 per cent would like earlier morning appointments.

Joy Squires, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Worcester, said the number of surgeries offering evening and weekend appointments is in constant decline.

“It’s really tough for people to juggle their work and family commitments,” she said.

“Many local residents tell me how hard it is to squeeze a visit to the GP into their already busy schedules and for many, taking time off work to visit their GP is not an option.

“I hope GP surgeries in Worcester will listen closely to what their patients are saying and offer more flexible opening hours, especially for working people.”

However Sue Price, director of commissioning for the Arden, Herefordshire and Worcestershire area team of NHS England, said present arrangements are sufficient and that the vast majority of patients are satisfied with what is on offer.

“Eighty-four per cent of residents living in the area covered by South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group are satisfied with the access they have to appointments, which is higher than the national average,” she said.

“Many practices in this area are already providing appointments in the evening and on Saturday mornings as part of an extended hours scheme.

“Additionally, the Worcester Walk-in Centre in Farrier Street has walk-in appointments available from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, for patients who need urgent care that doesn’t require a visit to A&E.

“NHS England works with GP practices to assess their appointment systems and will help identify if any changes are needed.

“We want to ensure that patients have convenient access to local primary care services.”

Nationally, 17 per cent of patients said their current GP opening hours are not convenient.