GPs strike deal to help end '8am scramble' for appointments
News - 3 March 2025
atients will be able to book more appointments online and request to see their usual doctor under a new contract agreed with England's GPs, the government has said.
The deal gives an extra £889m a year to general practices, as well as a reduction in red tape and targets that ministers hope will mean doctors are freed up to see more patients.
The Labour government made manifesto promises to bring back "family" doctors and end the early morning phone "scramble" for appointments.
The doctors' union, the British Medical Association (BMA), says the deal is an important first step in restoring general practices.
However, doctors also want the government to commit to talks about a completely new national contract for GPs within this parliament.
GP surgeries are seen as the front door to the NHS but for years now, doctors have been warning about the pressure their service is under.
Patients have felt it too, with some people facing long waits for appointments.
Long waiting times for routine GP appointments have led to the now familiar "8am scramble" for a same-day appointment.
Many GP surgeries open their telephone lines at 8am, meaning that if you want an on-the-day appointment, you have to phone on the dot at 8am.
It is a frequent source of complaints from patients who often find themselves held in long queues, only to be told all the appointments have been booked up.
Not all surgeries work like this though, with others operating telephone call-back services or online triage so that patients can be prioritised.
The new contract says patients should be able to arrange appointments online throughout working hours, freeing up the phones for those who need them most, and making it easier for practices to triage patients based on medical need.
GPs are the first point of call for most health concerns. So, it's important that you have a positive experience, particularly if you need further treatment. Please share your experience to help us improve care for everyone.
Women across the Black Country are being encouraged to visit their local pharmacy for the morning after pill (emergency contraception) – making it quicker and easier to access the care they need without booking a GP or clinic appointment.
Following the successful launch of the oral contraception service in March 2025, which allows patients to start or continue taking the contraceptive pill directly from their local pharmacy, the region has now extended access to include the morning after pill (emergency hormonal contraception).
More than 200 pharmacies across the Black Country are now participating in this expanded service, aimed at increasing choice, accessibility and confidentiality. Services include:
• Supply of oral contraception (the pill) – first supply or continuation – with a confidential consultation at the pharmacy, free of prescription charge.
• Supply of the morning after pill (emergency contraception) – available as part of this service extension, so that people needing it urgently do not have to wait for a GP appointment.
Sukhy Somal, Head of Community Pharmacy Clinical Services for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are trained experts to provide timely, safe, confidential access to both regular and emergency contraception. This helps people avoid delays and ensures better support across the Black Country.”
The morning after pill is most effective the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex, and this new service aims to remove barriers to timely access. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians will provide information on ongoing contraception options and sexual health services where appropriate.
The new services are part of an NHS England initiative to expand the range of clinical services available in community pharmacies, helping to free up GP appointments while improving timely access to care.
Residents can find participating pharmacies across Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley on the Black Country ICB website or by asking their local pharmacy.
You may have heard about an awful sexual assault, said to be racially motivated which took place over the weekend in Walsall. The perpetrator has we are advised been arrested but this has given many of us pause for thought. Women and girls of any background should not feel threatened, unsafe or at risk. This just isn’t acceptable !
We have had the following guidance/advice from the Police which we are circulating to our VCSE membership and the network and would ask you to share with your networks, family and friends too on all platforms. Apologies in advance if you receive this email a couple of times as you may be on different email lists that we hold from our International Women’s Day events that we have held.
Making the West Midlands a safer place for our communities, particularly women and girls is our priority.
Following recent incidents, we have been holding meetings with community leaders and other partners to listen to and discuss concerns.
We have been linking in with women’s charities, female community leaders, community safety partners, independent advisory groups and local politicians to discuss women’s safety.
We continue to visit faith establishments and speak with local leaders about women’s safety and what measures men can take to make women feel more comfortable.
We understand the fear and concern this type of crime can cause for our communities.
Here’s some advice to keep yourself safe:
• Stay alert – awareness is your best defence.
• If you are going out, plan your journey and let someone know.
• Try to leave places with friends or family wherever possible.
• Try to stay in well-lit areas.
• Be confident – even if you don't feel it.
• Travel as if you know where you are going.
• Take the most direct route and try to stay within areas where other people are around.
• Have your keys available when you reach your home or car.
• Carry a personal alarm and use it when necessary.
The following tips may seem obvious but there are some simple things we can all do to help other people feel safer when they’re out and about.
Keep your distance
When walking behind someone, particularly at night, try to leave a good amount of distance between yourself and the person ahead of you. Remember that the closer you are, the more threatening you might seem.
Cross the road
Somebody running up behind you, particularly at night, can be frightening. If you’re out for an evening run, or walk, and see someone walking ahead, cross the road, call out to let them know you’re about to run by them or make sure to leave a good amount of space when you pass them.
Be an active bystander
If you notice someone is uncomfortable with another person's behaviour, show your support by being an active bystander. It can be as simple as standing between a person and their harasser to block their line of sight. Ask that person if they need any help, and back up anyone else who is intervening.
If you or someone else are injured, in immediate danger or you need support right away, call 999 now. If it isn't an emergency, call us on 101 and report what happened or just get some advice.
If you want to report something to us but don't want to talk directly to us, some support organisations can make a report on your behalf such as a third-party reporting centre
They don't have to give us your details, you can ask the organisation not to tell us who you are. We can get more information from you by asking the support organisation to ask you questions on our behalf.
Hate Crime can be reported directly to West Midlands Police ( How to report hate crime | West Midlands Police ) or if they feel more comfortable it can be reported via our third-party reporting. For Walsall this is the Walsall Disability and Carers Hub at 17 Lichfield Street, WS1 1TU, Phone: 01922 616 798.
Also ask those employing staff to please revisit your policies on lone working and check in with all your staff as to how they are feeling.
As women we have a powerful voice and in terms of this network, thanks to women who have already made contact and started to share. Please let us know your thoughts, which we can convey to the Police and other key bodies such as Health or the council.
