Figures published yesterday by the Department of Health reveal that the Primary Care Trust serving Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale has the worst record in Greater Manchester for GPs' surgeries offering extended hours and the fifth worst of the 24 PCTs in the North West.

The Government target of 50% of GPs surgeries providing extended hours opening has been met nationally at 58.9%. However, the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT offers extended surgery hours from only five of its 35 surgeries, a 14.3% rating.

The next lowest percentage in Greater Manchester is Manchester PCTs 46.1% with the other eight PCTs all at or above the Government target headed by Oldham’s 82.6% achievement.

In the North West region's 24 PCTs only Western Cheshire (0%), Warrington (10.3%) and Liverpool (11.5%) have smaller percentages of surgeries providing this important service than the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT.

In fact the North West region as a whole has the poorest performance of any region nationally at 41.7% and is the only region to fail to meet the Government's 50% target.

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