Most GPs have signed up to the new contract

The findings come on the day thousands of GPs around the UK are due to sign up to a new NHS contract.

Under the deal, GPs will be able to opt-out of providing care to patients at evenings and weekends.

The Doctor Patient Partnership is launching a campaign to advise patients on where to go for medical advice.

'Feel guilty'

The ICM poll of 1,000 adults for the DPP found 42% feel guilty if they call for health advice outside of its normal hours.

Just 7% said they had called their GP surgery outside of surgery hours.

The introduction of the new GP contract this week marks the beginning of a change that will be better for patients Dr John Chisholm, BMA GP contract at a glance

Some 22% said they had called 999 or gone to A&E. Another 8% had used the 24-telephone helpline NHS Direct, while 2% had visited their local pharmacy.

Over half of those questioned said they wanted more information on where to go for medical help in the evenings and at weekends.

The new GP contract represents one of the biggest shake-ups in the history of the NHS.

It is one of a raft of changes coming into effect on 1 April. The others include the establishment of a new health watchdog - the Healthcare Commission.

The first 10 foundation trusts, which were named on Tuesday, also start work.

The new GP contract will see spending on primary care increase by one third to �8bn by 2008, while more of a GP's pay will be linked to the quality of care they provide to patients.

Under the deal, which was accepted in a nationwide vote last year, some GPs will be able to opt-out of providing non-essential services, such as contraception, if they are overstretched.

Others are expected to offer more specialised clinics, such as minor surgery which is normally only available in hospital.

But the decision to allow GPs to opt-out of providing care in the evenings and at weekends is being viewed as the biggest change.

Responsibility for out-of-hours care will pass to primary care trusts. It is being phased in over the next eight months.

Most GPs are expected to have given up their out-of-hours work by the end of this year.

Benefit patients

The British Medical Association said the changes would benefit GPs and patients.

"The introduction of the new GP contract this week marks the beginning of a change that will be better for patients and better for everyone working in general practice," said Dr John Chisholm, chairman of its GPs committee.

The NHS Confederation, which represents health service management and helped negotiate the deal, also backed the changes.

"It is the first time any health system will systematically reward GPs on the basis of how well they care for patients rather than the number of patients they treat," said Gill Morgan, its chief executive.

Dr Mike Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, which represents PCTs, said the new contract would help in the recruitment of extra GPs.

"It will restore a new confidence and value to the GP role that will attract young doctors to take up its challenges and rewards."

Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said many patients were concerned that they would no longer be able to see a GP out-of-hours.