Health chiefs in Medway are urging residents to keep their eyes open for its comprehensive guide to GP services and pharmacies.

From Monday Your guide to GP Surgeries and Pharmacies will begin to land on the doormats of Medway’s residents.

This free guide offers information about opening times of the services, allowing you to access them more easily when you need them.

Many GP surgeries now offer appointments before 8am or after 6.30pm and some have weekend slots too. Some pharmacies are also open late into the evening and at weekends.

It also offers information on winter vomiting, when to use NHS Direct and what services Medway On Call Care (MedOCC) provides.

The guide has been designed as an easy to use directory that the PCT hopes residents will keep handy for when they need it.

NHS Medway Chief Executive Marion Dinwoodie said: “At NHS Medway our aim is to offer you choices about how, where and when to be seen, so you get a service that fits in with your life.

“When people in Medway told us they wanted to be able to access GP services more easily, we listened – and acted.

“We have worked with practices to extend their opening hours.

"More than 80 per cent now offer patients early, late or weekend appointments.”

She added: “I am pleased that it is now easier to see GPs and NHS dentists in Medway than ever before.”

NHS Medway will open three more GP practices in April 2009.

Plans are also in place to expand existing services with a new GP-led health centre, open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, which will be able to see and treat walk-in patients as well as people registered at the practice.