Dr John Chisholm warned that morale was very low

The "Crisis in Care" report also reveals that morale among family doctors is at an all-time low.

Doctors blame the problems on a lack of resources and staff.

They say they are over-burdened by excessive paperwork and cannot spare sufficient time to give each patient the attention that they need.

GPs are worried that pressures on beds, facilities, resources and time could lead to system breakdowns and tragic consequences.

This is illustrated by the case of a two-month-old baby with liver problems who was nearly given a considerably higher drug dosage than the consultant intended following a prescription misprint.

Fortunately, the GP decided to double-check the dosage with the hospital and the error was uncovered.

Second rate

Dr John Chisholm, Chairman of BMA's GP's Committee, said: "First rate family doctors feel their patients get a second rate NHS service - or worst".

"Many doctors say they are planning to retire early or leave the profession, rather than go on with the intolerable burdens of paperwork, bureaucracy and the frustration they feel from fighting to get appropriate treatment for their patients."

Dr Chisholm stressed that GPs do not blame their hospital colleagues for the difficulties their patients experience in getting secondary care as they recognise that hospitals, too, are stretched to the limit.

However, he said: "Inevitably, however, when people have operations cancelled, or face long waits to see a specialist, it is the family doctor who has to keep the patient going until treatment has been delivered."

Dr Chisholm warned that government reforms - including a maximum 48 hour wait to see a family doctor - would be impossible to deliver unless more GPs were recruited and more funds made available.

This month the BMA began balloting all 36,000 GPs in the UK over whether they would be prepared to resign from the NHS if new contracts were agreed on by next year.

The results are expected in the first week of June - just days before the general election.