WORCESTERSHIRE is the second worst county in the country when it comes to GPs offering extended hours to patients.

The latest figures, published yesterday, show that only six out of 67 GP practices (nine per cent) in the county offered weekend and evening opening in November.

Only Western Cheshire PCT had a worse rate than Worcestershire PCT, where none of its 39 GPs offer extended hours.

Extended hours is a Government scheme to get GP surgeries to offer later opening on weekdays and to open at weekends.

Dr Simon Parkinson, secretary of the Worcestershire Local Medical Committee, said doctors and the PCT had already worked out an extended hours programme before the Government decided to impose its own.

“Left on our own, we could have worked this out,” he said. “Many doctors feel the hours they work are long enough already. ”

But Mike Foster, MP for Worcester, said the take-up was disappointing and added: “Healthcare is not nine to five - it is a 24 hour business.”

Health bosses at Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, which manages our GPs, said take-up had improved dramatically since the figures were collated by the Department of Health.

The PCT now has firm proposals from more than 35 per cent of practices in the county, committed to providing extended hours. However, that does not mean they are offering extended hours, only that they have a commitment to do so.

The PCT wants to see all practices offering extended hours during next year.

Paul Bates, chief executive of Worcestershire PCT, said: “Many GPs in Worcestershire have been providing extended hours for some months but not to the extent that could meet the national criteria. We devised a new scheme, in which we have invested an extra half a million pounds, which goes well beyond the national requirements and the scheme is proving much more attractive to local doctors.”

Plans are also underway for a GP led health centre in the heart of Worcester which will offer GP and nurse appointments, 8am to 8pm, seven days per week.