DOCTORS have criticised David Cameron’s promise to give people access to a GP seven days a week.

Bolton GPs said they agreed with the principle of extending opening hours but warned it could lead to “burn out” in the profession.

The Prime Minister told the Conservative Party conference patients in England will have seven-day access by 2020 if the Tories get elected.

He also promised to bring back “named GPs” to take charge of care outside hospital.

Dr Anjana Kumar, GP at Deane Medical Centre, said: “Opening seven days a week is great in theory.

However, it could lead potentially to the burn-out of GPs and health care professionals. Like all professionals, GPs need to have work-life balance to offer safe, quality care that patients deserve.”

Dr Krishna Korlipara was the founder of the first GP Co-operative in the UK, a non-profit-making out-of-hours service introduced in Bolton in 1977.

Dr Korlipara said: “I have grave doubts about these promises being made. There is no substance to what Mr Cameron has said. While out-of-hours GP services are being put out to procurement, commercial interests will always be put before patients.”

Commissioners piloted extended opening hours at GP surgeries in Bolton on Boxing Day and Easter in a bid to reduce A&E admissions during bank holidays.

However, finance chiefs said the scheme did not save enough money to be rolled out permanently.

The Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) says they are already piloting extended opening hours schemes in Bolton.

Su Long, chief officer of Bolton CCG, said: “We are already piloting extended hours in Bolton in several trial projects funded by the CCG’s Primary Care Innovation Fund. The success of these will be evaluated.”