SOME good news for the residents of Liverpool today, as around half of the city’s GPs agree to extend their opening hours.

It is surprising that it took months of negotiations and arguing to achieve what is so fundamentally, obviously, necessary and important.

And no doubt many patients will be asking just why the other half of doctors’ surgeries are still not falling in line with the proposals?

As the Daily Post revealed last summer, the out-of-hours provision in Liverpool surgeries was beyond poor – it was simply non-existent.

No one could dispute that the situation had to change – and quickly. Thankfully, Liverpool PCT has achieved some success and a service will now be offered on selected evenings and weekends from the end of this month.

The Trust says this will rise to nearly 70% by the end of January and discussions are still taking place with the remaining practices. Surely those GPs still holding firm must see that their stance cannot continue for much longer?

Patients have long been unhappy at having to take time off work to see their GP. This complaint has not been eased by the fact that family doctors had won a lucrative pay rise – without a need (at that time) to extend opening hours. The BMA does not emerge with credit for refusing to sign up to the Department of Health agreement committing half of surgeries to open three extra hours a week until ministers threatened financial penalties.

Still, now at least some progress is being made in Liverpool. The next step is for Halton and St Helens, Wirral and Knowsley – which also lag behind – to bring in more patient-friendly opening hours. As Liverpool moves towards its goal, those other areas should now put their own houses in order.