Patients who need to see a healthcare professional over the Easter break will be able to access appointments across Suffolk.

Suffolk GP Federation will be running its GP+ service in various places in East and West Suffolk.

The service allows patients to book an appointment with a GP, nurse or physiotherapist at a time that fits in with their working week.

Locations holding this service are Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Felixstowe, Stowmarket, Leiston, Wickham Market and Haverhill.

People can ask reception staff at their local surgery to refer them to GP+, or in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds they can be booked in at weekends and bank holidays via the NHS 111 telephone helpline.

The service is set provide a total of 77,076 extra appointments throughout East and West Suffolk in 2018/19.

Paul Driscoll, Suffolk GP Federation medical director, said: “We’re very pleased with how the service has been performing and the feedback we receive from patients is overwhelmingly positive – with 98% saying they would recommend GP+ to friends or family.

“We’d encourage anyone who can’t get an appointment at their regular surgery to ask their receptionist about GP+. They will then be seen at a time and location that is convenient to them.

“At busy times of the year such as the Easter break it can play an important role in reducing pressure on GP surgeries and hospital A&E departments.

“The service is just one example of how Suffolk GP Federation and our wider healthcare partners are trying to tackle some of the challenges currently facing the NHS.

“As an organisation, we are continually looking at new and innovative ways to improve the way doctors’ surgeries can deliver healthcare in the county. “We run several initiatives that aim to make general practice more sustainable – providing support for our members but also ensuring patients continue to receive the high level of care that they quite rightly expect.”

GP+ operating times over the Easter weekend:

Ipswich

9am - 9pm – every day including Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Bury St Edmunds

9am - 9pm – every day including Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Leiston

9am - 1pm – Saturday.

Wickham Market

9am - 1pm – Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday.

Stowmarket

9am - 1pm – Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday.

Felixstowe

9am - 5pm – Saturday.

Haverhill

9am - 5pm – Saturday.

For more information about GP+ or Suffolk GP Federation, please visit www.suffolkfed.org.uk.