FAMILY doctors have been asked if they will stay open until 9pm to take the pressure off struggling A&E departments.

A letter has been sent to surgeries in Blackburn with Darwen asking if they will consider the move.

A leading GP behind the idea said it could ease the burden on A&E departments and it has been welcomed by hospital chiefs.

But many GPs are expected to oppose the move as the responsibility for "out of hours" care rests with health authorities.

Last year a key A&E target, to get 98 per cent of patients treated within four hours, was missed six times by hospital chiefs.

It meant more than 2,000 people were left waiting more than four hours at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals.

Surgeries are mainly closed from 6.30pm to 8am during the week and most don't open at weekends, meaning patients have to telephone a dedicated out-of-hours line or, in some cases, go to A&E.

The letter was sent by Blackburn GP Dr Malcolm Ridgway and Janet Ledward, director of commissioning, strategic development and performance manage-ment at Blackburn with Darwen NHS Primary Care Trust.

Dr Ridgway told the Lancashire Telegraph: "At the moment this is just being looked at to see if it is feasible both logistically and financially."

He said it was Government policy to have services more accessible for patients and continued: "A&E departments in the North West have been very busy recently and longer opening hours could relieve some of the pressure by allowing patients to access their own surgeries rather than A&E or the out-of-hours GP service.

"The PCT has yet to decide whether to go ahead with the plan."

Mrs Ledward said she expected the response to be "mixed".

One GP, Dr David Gebbie, whose practice is in Preston New Road, Blackburn said the present out-of-hours service was "superb".

But he said: "It is very important to consider the work-life balance for the GPs and all the practice staff."

Rae Wheatcroft, manager of the two hospitals' assessment units and A&E departments, said he welcomed any initiative that ensured services were used appropriately .