The scheme was set up in June 2000, to cover 200 GP practices and has since expanded to include 1,000 surgeries and seven million people.

There are people walking around now who wouldn't have been if these teams had not done this work

Dr John Oldham, scheme co-ordinator

Research shows heart disease patients were 34% less likely to die from the condition than those not included in the programme.

Head of the scheme, Glossop GP Dr John Oldham, said: "These results are an outstanding tribute to primary care teams in the NHS.

"But more than that it demonstrates the bottom line that these changes are about improving care for patients - put simply, there are people walking around now who wouldn't have been if these teams had not done this work."

The National Primary Care Development Team (NPCDT) programme is the largest of its kind in the world.

It costs 83 pence per patient and is now due to be extended, an NHS spokesman said.

Specialist doctors

From the first 200 practices, 99% have met the government target of patients seeing a GP within 48 hours, compared to a national average of just 50% in 1998.

The government target is for GP access within 48 hours for 60% of patients by March 2002 and for all patients by 2004.

Health minister John Hutton said the scheme's success showed the government was putting extra investment into the health service.

Doctors in the scheme share information

He said: "The NPCDT's success underlines the message that if these resources are coupled with reform, patients will get a better deal."

Mr Hutton said he was confident all NHS patients would have GP access within 48 hours by 2004.

The Department of Health claims the scheme has helped create 212 "GP specialists" with expertise in rheumatology, orthopaedics, dermatology, ear, nose and throat complaints and endoscopy, the NHS Modernisation Agency announced.

GP shortages

The BMA says the government should be focusing more on increasing GP numbers.

A BMA spokeswoman said: "There's a huge shortage of GPs in the UK and each one is facing ever increasing work loads and this has an effect both on the length of the consultation and time of the appointment."

The BMA says the government wants to introduce more specialists under the NHS plan, but it fears this would put more pressure on GP services.

The spokeswoman said: "While GPs are doing special clinics, they could be doing general practice and we have a critical shortage of GPs in general practice.

"The BMA is in no way opposed to GPs developing special interests but the overwhelming reality is they don't have time."

Surgeries in the programme share information on how to improve services, including reducing waiting times by using e-mails and telephone calls to handle patient demand.

Improvements in the treatment of patients with heart disease have included extra help and advice in managing the condition.