The new GP contract came into effect in April

Dr John Chisholm will tell the BMA's annual conference of GPs that the new contract, which came into effect in April, will improve public health.

The change was billed as the biggest to the way GPs work in a generation.

However, it is expected to come under fire from some GPs at the conference in London on Thursday.

Under fire

GPs voted in favour of the contract exactly one year ago. However, many are unhappy with the way it has been introduced.

Some doctors are expected to tell the conference that the changes have failed to improve the way they work.

Countries with strong primary care systems have healthier populations Dr John Chisholm, BMA

They are expected to say that they have seen little improvement in their workload or the care they are able to provide to patients.

The introduction of the contract paved the way for a substantial increase in the amount of money spent on primary care. Overall spending is expected to rise by one third to �8bn by 2006.

But it also paved the way for major changes to the way GPs work. From December, they will no longer have to provide medical care to patients at weekends.

The responsibility for this will pass to primary care organisations. This change is being phased in over the course of this year.

GPs are also being encouraged to offer more specialist services which have traditionally only been available in hospitals.

Others will be allowed to opt out of providing some services, if their workload is too high.

A large proportion of GPs' incomes is now linked to the quality of care they provide.

Dr Chisholm will tell the conference that the changes will strengthen primary care and people's health.

"Countries with strong primary care systems have healthier populations," he will say.

He will back targets for reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, saying they will help to cut heart attacks and save lives.

"In a 10,000 population over five years, 54 cardiovascular events would be prevented.

"That is the health gain you will achieve for your patients in your practices - an achievement to be proud of."

The conference will debate more than 700 motions over the course of two days.