Surgeries are putting on extra appointments to make it easier for families to see their doctor.

GP surgeries are putting on extra urgent appointments that don’t need to be booked in advance to help reduce pressure at the Urgent Care Centre and A&E units at Northwick Park Hospital.

Both Alexandra Clinic for Health and Social Care in Alexandra Avenue and the Pinn Medical Centre in Love Lane are offering urgent “walk-in” appointments seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.

The extra appointments, which will initially be run as a pilot until the end of March, are being provided following a successful bid to the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund.

Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group chairman Dr Amol Kelshiker said: “Many health complaints can be dealt with through a GP appointment rather than a trip to A&E or an urgent care centre and this scheme is part of our plans to make it easier for residents to see a GP.

“People can go to an easily accessible hub practice if they need a GP urgently and can’t get an appointment at their usual practice.

“Urgent care centres and emergency departments are under pressure at the moment and, as GPs responsible for most local health services, we know we all have a role to play in helping make sure people get the right care in the right place.”