Up to �10m allocated for local GP practices in Wales is being held back by health authorities, according to the British Medical Association (BMA).

The BMA has revealed that the money, which is distributed by the Welsh Assembly, is not reaching its indended destinations because local health authorities are not passing it on.

If we want to develop primary care, we have to have more resources

Dr Bryn John

The funds were unspent at the end of the last financial year.

Since then, half of the money has been allocated for future projects, but around �5.5m - which amounts to around �8,000 per practice - still remained unaccounted for.

Dr Andrew Dearden, chairman of the BMA's Welsh GP committee, admitted being frustrated because GPs are told that no money is available when they apply for more staff and extra services.

He felt the money was being used to balance books, despite being specifically intended for GPs.

Former chairman of the BMA's GP commitee, Dr Bryn John said: "I think the assembly is fully behind the release of the money," he said.

Jane Hutt is reorganising the Welsh NHS

"But we feel that local decisions are being made by the health authority accountants or financial departments to deliberately deny this money."

Dr John recognised the need for money to be given to secondary services such as hospitals, but argued that GPs also needed cash.

"If we want to develop primary care, we have to have more resources," he said.

Under a restructure instigated by Assembly Health Minister Jane Hutt, the five existing health authorities will be abolished on 1 April 2003.

In their place will be 22 local health boards (LHBs) which cover the same areas as local authorities.