The British government is considering requiring doctors offering longer hours to patients, but there's a question on how it should be funded. Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt is planning to release a paper on community health services soon that includes proposals for longer doctor's office hours. She said patients wanted better access to healthcare. Having doctors offices open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. will fail without extra money, said unions for doctors and nurses, the Daily Telegraph reported Saturday. "While evening surgeries (office hours) would suit commuters, they would not suit the needs of young children or the elderly who prefer practices to be open in the daytime," said Dr. Hamish Meldrum, the chairman of the British Medical Association. Anne Duffy, the director of the Community and District Nurses Association, called the plans "deeply flawed and ill-conceived." © Copyright 2005 by United Press International

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