The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has unveiled a £50m pilot scheme for doctors’ surgeries to open until 8pm seven days a week in a bid to make the hours more convenient for patients and to take the pressure off overstretched A&E departments.

The scheme, which was unveiled at the Conservative Party conference, will offer extra cash to groups of GPs proposing the most effective ways to improve patient access.

As well as extended surgery hours, ministers hope they will pioneer more effective use of technology, such as consultations with patients via video calls, email and by telephone. Triage nurses in some A&E departments would also be able to directly book patients in for GP evening and weekend appointments.

In addition, electronic prescriptions, greater use of Skype, online appointment bookings and allowing people to visit a number of different surgeries across an area are among other measures that could be introduced.

Mr Cameron said that people using A&E departments sometimes really just need to see a GP but for hard-working people it is often too difficult because they are at work and cannot get an appointment at a convenient time.

The Government is starting the pilot schemes in nine regions of England and the ambition is to roll that out across the country, if it works. The extended-hours scheme is already being trialed in six practices in Manchester, which are being hailed as “successful” by the Government.

However, some doctors are concerned that the proposals could stretch GP practices even more thinly and are calling on the Government to invest in general practice so that the extra doctors needed to man practices during the extended opening hours can be recruited.