WE asked our readers what they thought should be done to improve GP services. Here's what they said.

Edwina Perkins said: "Work full-time rather than part-time. Make use of the student doctors from university, make sure you can see your patient within three working days unless urgent, then on the day. At present a lot of GPs are now working privately as well as for us at the surgery. It is time they rethink their job roles, and either move to private practice if that is what they want, or work full time."

Kathryn Davidson Armstrong said: "Bellingham Practice is absolutely fantastic," and Pete Barrett added: "Give the funding that is needed, the service has been starved for going on 15 years."

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Bridie K McClelland said: "Prudhoe Medical Group are excellent."

Karl Fisher said: "Fund them adequately, it's not a difficult question."

Judith Ridley commented: "GPs to make home visits especially to their older clients to assess their forever changing ailments as they know them best. Not just a phone consultation and then sending out a paramedic. The paramedics are lovely but it's a GP they want to see."

Stewart Bell said: "Not use cost as a reason not to offer life-changing scans to diagnose problems or say patients can’t have tests due to costs."

Lizzie Stobo said: "You will never improve everyone's expectations - demand is higher - people are living longer and unfortunately GPs can't and don't work like they did 40 years ago."