I see no reason why patients should have to be referred to and from hospital for services which could be provided in their local GP surgery

Alan Milburn, Health Secretary

These services could include treatment of ear, nose and throat problems or skin disorders. Patients are generally required to attend hospital as an out-patient for these conditions.

The extra money could also be used to develop intermediate care services. The government has devised the concept of intermediate care as a way of freeing up NHS beds.

It involves GPs running 'cottage hospitals' in the community where patients, such as the elderly, could be transferred to recuperate so that they are not taking up beds in major hospitals.

Quicker access

Mr Milburn said: "I see no reason why patients should have to be referred to and from hospital for services which could be provided in their local GP surgery. This is a win-win situation for everyone.

Dr Chisholm welcomed the extra money

"GPs are keen to broaden the range of services they can offer, patients want quicker access and less hassle in getting the care they need while hospital clinics and consultants want to reduce waiting times for their specialist services.

GP leader Dr John Chisholm welcomed the extra funding and suggested the money could be used innovatively to improve services for patients.

He suggest the money should be used by primary care groups - GP-led health management bodies - to offer longer opening hours and specialist services at a community level rather than by an individual practice.

"But I certainly welcome the extra resources. Some GPs will want to run with this and others will say their current workload is enough but it gives PCGs an opportunity to work in an innovative way."

However, London GP Dr Ron Singer expressed doubts that the money would be enough to allow for longer opening hours and more services.

"If GPs open in the evening, presumably they would not be expected to work at some stage during the day.

"This money will pay for practice infrastructure such as receptionists and electricity but it will not pay for GPs time.

"The details of how this would work are very scant at the moment."

The extra �55m is intended to be the first of a series of annual packages and is part of the extra �2bn announced for the NHS in Chancellor Gordon Brown's budget earlier this year.