The largest practice in the UK has backed NHS plans to extend its opening hours.

The Leicester practice in Melton, called Latham House Medical Practice, has said it is ‘supportive’ of new NHS plans to increase access to GP surgeries, which could include an extension of opening hours into the evenings and at weekends.

As well as extending practice opening hours, NHS England is developing plans to use urgent care centres and an enhanced 111 service to reduce the burden on A&E units.

Management at Latham House, which is the area’s main surgery and the largest single group practice in the UK with 20 GPs caring for 35,500 patients, has not yet decided decided how the practice will support the proposals.

The practice released a statement which said: ‘Staff and doctors of Latham House Medical Practice welcome the Government’s commitment to improve patient access to health care.

‘Although the detail of the service developments are yet to be finalised, patients of Latham House Medical Practice can be assured that the practice is supportive of the developments.

‘Although hospitals and doctors’ surgeries, including Latham House, are working under intense pressure and experiencing challenging times, Latham House will continue to look at how best to continue to support local patients.’

Elliot Howard-Jones, of NHS England (for central England) said: ‘We will be working closely with local health and care leaders and frontline staff to deliver on the priorities that patients and members of the public have told us matter most to them.’