DOCTORS' surgeries across Barnsley and the Dearne will be opening on Saturday mornings to help improve care and reduce pressure on the accident and emergency department.
Six GP practices are offering appointments to patients needing urgent medical advice or repeat prescriptions.
The surgeries are: Furlong Road Surgery and Hollygreen Practice, both at the Goldthorpe Centre, Grimethorpe Surgery at the Grimethorpe Centre, Park Grove Medical Practice, Royston Group Practice on Midland Road, Royston and St George's Medical Centre at The Roundhouse Medical Centre, Athersley.
Appointment times vary from between 8am to 3.50pm and can be booked from 4pm the previous day or by drop in on the morning.
Dr Nick Balac, chairman of the CCG, said: "Saturday opening will allow patients with an urgent need to see a GP at their own surgery. It's just one of things we've introduced to ensure people can get the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time.
"We will see more practices open up on Saturdays over the next few months and patients whose surgery isn't currently part of the scheme can still call NHS 111 if they have an urgent health need and there will be the normal out of hours care available."
