A SCHEME to slash waiting times for surgery appointments has been hailed a success by patients and doctors who have piloted a new system.

The Middle Chare and Bridge End Surgeries in Chester-le-Street are among the first GP practices in the region to bring in a new scheme that guarantees patients a routine appointment with a doctor either the day they phone or the next working day. Patients wanting advice can also now consult their GP over the telephone.

Primary Care Development facilitator Theresa Huddart said: "The beauty of this system is they can have telephone consultations with GPs because it saves people getting time off work or making alternative family arrangements. The practices are very pleased with the way it's been going."

In order for the practices to bring in the Advanced Access appointment system, Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust awarded the practices funds so that staff could work overtime to get rid of the backlog of appointments.

The system has been running for several months and as well as cutting the wait for an appointment from between seven and 14 days, it has also reduced the number of people who do not keep appointments from eight per cent to two per cent.