4:23pm UK, Monday March 10, 2008

Family doctors are to open in the evenings and at weekends.

GPs will have to open longer

GPs agreed to the move after the Government told them they must open their surgeries for longer hours or take a pay cut.

The decision means that an average 6,000-patient surgery will open for an extra three hours a week, in two 90-minute periods. Between 6.30pm and 8pm is the most likely time, but some surgeries may open on Saturday mornings.

Doctors initially offered to do two hours, but backed down after ministers threatened to cut their budgets for the practices by up to £36,000 a year.

The doctors accepted an alternative deal where practices still lose £18,000 a year but can earn it back with the extra hours.

In a British Medical Association poll, 96% of doctors said they opposed both options, but agreed to the "less of the worse" of the two.

The BMA condemned the "gun barrel method of negotiation" and said the rift had caused "an overwhelming loss of faith" in the Government.

But Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: "We are delighted GPs have supported the deal."

Gordon Brown said: "I welcome this commitment from GPs to extend opening into evenings and weekends and improve access to vital GP services for millions of patients.

"These improvements are critical if the NHS is to deliver more personal services and better focus on preventing ill health at an early stage."

Average GP salaries have soared to more than £100,000 - among the highest in the world.