We want to let you know that the opening hours at The Practice Northumberland Avenue will be changing soon. We would like to get your feedback on how this change may impact you.
What’s changing?
We have agreed with NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (the ICB) to change our opening hours so they match the core business hours used by most GP practices locally and across the country.
That means our new core hours will be Monday – Friday, 8am – 6.30pm.
We know evening and weekend appointments matter to many patients. While we will no longer directly provide these at the practice, we want to reassure you that you will still have access to evening and weekend appointments through the Southend Victoria Primary Care Network.
Our practice will continue to offer all the usual types of patient services from the same familiar healthcare team you know during these new core opening times.
This change will come into effect on Wednesday 1 April 2026.
Access to care outside core hours
Even with the change in hours, you will still be able to see a GP or nurse during evenings and weekends through the Extended Access Service. This service is run by a group of local practices working together as part of the Southend Victoria Primary Care Network. This service operates from:
Weekdays: 6.30pm – 8pm
Saturdays: 9am – 5pm
This means you may be offered an appointment at our practice, or at another local healthcare setting. These evening and Saturday services are provided locally from:
The Queensway Surgery, 75 Queensway, Southend on Sea, SS1 2AB.
You can ask for an appointment during these times when you contact us to request an appointment in the usual way.
Why this is happening
This change is happening as part of a wider review by the NHS in Mid and South Essex to reduce duplication of services, and make sure everyone gets fair and consistent access to high-quality GP services.
Currently, we provide evening and weekend appointments which duplicates services already available to our registered patients through the Southend Victoria Primary Care Network. By moving to the core hours set out in the national contract, we’ll be funded to provide care during core hours.
These changes will bring us line with other GP practices locally. They will also help free up funding that the local NHS can use to deliver a greater range of local services.
We want to hear from you
Your views matter. The NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board would like to get your feedback on how this change in opening hours may impact you, your family, or those you care for. Your views are very important to us and will help us understand what support patients may need with this change.
