A GROUP of GPs have slammed the move to extend an online medical records scheme which is being piloted in the borough.

The four family doctors have raised serious security concerns about the system, which allows private patient records to be accessed by dozens of health professionals rather than just an individual GP.

They are furious about the cost of the project, which is part of a £12.4 billion programme to upgrade the NHS's IT, and are worried it will put people off visiting their GP for fear their records will become public.

Dr Tim Issac, from the Dunstan Medical Centre in Tonge Fold, Dr Barry Silvert from the Stone Mill Medical Centre in Farnworth, Dr John Tabor from the Kilodnan House medical Practice in Horwich and Dr Chris Woods from the Halliwell Surgery in Halliwell, have all spoken out against the scheme.

Dr Tabor said: "There will be 250,000 people who will have access to these records and even though they have been criminally checked, I just don't believe there won't be the odd bad apple."

So far, 11 surgeries in Bolton - and 66,000 patients - have signed up to the scheme, which will include details such as allergies and current medication.

But letters have been sent out to all other Bolton patients and it is expected they will be signed up by the end of next summer.