New appointments mean Isle of Wight residents can visit doctors on evenings and weekends

These primary care appointments, scheduled on most evenings during the week and on Saturday mornings, are available with a range of healthcare professionals, including GPs, practice nurses, healthcare assistants and clinical specialists.

Jason McLean, practice manager from Shanklin Medical Centre, said: "We are very keen to ensure that all patients are aware of this service as it gives them another access option to sit alongside their own GP practice appointments and, where available eConsult.

"Feedback from patients using the service so far has been overwhelmingly positive."

Appointments are available Monday to Thursday from 6.30pm to 8pm at Shanklin Medical Centre, Wednesday and Thursday from 6.30pm to 8pm at Sandown Medical Centre, and on Saturday mornings at Tower House Surgery, Ryde, Sandown Medical Centre and Carisbrooke Health Centre.

The appointments are available for all Isle of Wight residents to attend and are bookable up to seven days in advance by contacting the GP practice you are registered with.

Patrick Legg, practice manager from Tower House, Ryde, said he was very happy with how the service has grown over the last year.

He said: "In our first year of operating this pilot we have offered a total of 5161 additional appointments which have been very well received by both patients and GP practices, with the feedback being overwhelmingly positive."

In addition to these extra appointments, some surgeries on the Isle of Wight will offer eConsult.

EConsult is an online triage and consultation tool, which gives patients access to self-help, the ability to complete admin such as sick and fit notes remotely and making it easier for GPs to assess what medical care the patient needs.

This service is available at Beech Grove Surgery, Esplanade Surgery, Sandown Health Centre, Shanklin Medical Centre, South Wight Medical Centre and West Wight Medical Centre on their websites.