GPS

His union, the British Medical Association, is so worried it has opened a formal dispute with the government about the new approach, warning GPs are going to be overwhelmed and that could put patients at risk.

Rakesh, who used to be a merchant shipping captain and now works as a safety auditor in the industry, feels GPs should be doing more to improve access – or at least the GP partners that run the practices.

Patricia, who is in her 70s and lives in Surrey, is sympathetic to the pressure on GPs.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne of the Royal College of GPs says it is clear there are still challenges - and she is not convinced it is a given that access will improve in the way the government believes.

"Practices are telling us that despite patients crying out for appointments they don't have the funding to employ the GPs they need."