WHITEHILL and Bordon residents can take part in a pilot scheme which offers increased access to GPs.

Patients registered at the 38 practices in the two geographical areas covered by the NHS South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group are making use of six hubs set up across the area which offer opening times over and above their usual GP surgery for both routine (pre-booked) and same-day appointments.

All GP practices already offer opening times over their core hours of 8am to 6.30pm for patients registered at their surgeries. The GP extended-access service (GPEA), an 18-month pilot due to run until March 2019, means patients can go to any of the hubs to see a doctor, providing they have given consent for their medical records to be shared.

GPEA clinics are available at the Badgerswood Surgery, Mill Lane, Headley, on Saturdays, and at the Petersfield Community Hospital, Mondays to Saturdays, as well as in Waterlooville, Havant, Gosport and Fareham. Alton falls into a different health area. The opening times depend on the day of the week: Mondays to Fridays, 6.30pm-8pm; Saturdays, 8am-4.30pm, and Sundays 8am-1pm.