Former M&S boss tells doctors to keep supermarket hours to stop waiting times
DOCTORS need to open their practices at weekends to stop overstretched emergency departments taking the strain of there awkward opening hours, according to the former boss of Marks and Spencer.
Sir Stuart Rose, who has been brought in to sort out the leadership and culture of the NHS, said shop workers were expected to work weekends, so GPs should too.
His calls come as the average waiting time for non-urgent appointments spirals to 14 days by April next year. There is currently an average nine day wait to see a doctor.
He said: "When I joined M&S it was made very clear to me that I would be lucky is I got one Saturday off in five or six.
"Some of these practices can't get you an appointment but they are only open 8am to 5pm and don't do nights and weekends."
Waiting times have led patients to use hospital casualties for treatment, clogging up hospitals.
But GPs hit back saying many already do offer weekend and evening clinics. Instead they blame the ageing population and insufficient resources.