article_snippet.sent: British Medical Association also found nearly two-thirds of GPs were not willing to join into larger groups to ensure one surgery in an area was open on Saturdays and Sundays .
article_snippet.sent: GPs are in revolt over Government plans for revolt over Government plans to offer patients appointments seven days a week.
article_snippet.sent: Almost all family doctors polled in a new survey said Almost all family doctors polled in a new survey do not think Almost all family doctors polled in a new survey own practice should open on weekends.
article_snippet.sent: And nearly two-thirds are not even willing to consider forming groups with other surgeries to ensure that at least one in an area is open to patients on Saturdays and Sundays.
article_snippet.sent: Government has tried to encourage GPs to offer out-of-hours appointments through a scheme known as the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund, launched in 2013.
article_snippet.sent: Surgeries have been urged to form into groups of 20 to 30 to ensure that between Surgeries at least one stays open in the evenings and at weekends.
article_snippet.sent: But a survey of 15,560 GPs by a survey of 15,560 GPs by their union, the British Medical Association union, the British Medical Association, found 63 per cent were opposed to forming networks with other surgeries to open seven days a week.
article_snippet.sent: This is mainly because they do not have the staff or the resources to provide appointments to the increasing numbers seeking they.
article_snippet.sent: While there is a willingness from GPs to look at offering extended hours, more than nine in ten GPs do not feel that more than nine in ten GPs practice can provide blanket seven day services when GPs are struggling to provide even basic care to more than nine in ten GPs patients.
highlights_snippet.sent: Two thirds are also not willing to consider joining into a group to ensure at least one surgery in an area is open on Saturdays and Sundays .
  