THE government has clashed with doctors' leaders over plans to extend surgery opening hours, insisting that more convenient appointments were a priority.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson issued a letter sent to every GP in England explaining why he wants surgeries to open at weekends and in the evenings.

It said: "Significant numbers of patients consistently tell us that improving access to GP services should be a priority for the NHS."

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said GP services had record investment and GPs were `very well paid'.

He said: "I don't think it is unreasonable for a government responsible for the health service to ensure the public and patients get what they want." And the move was backed by the CBI. Its director of public services, Dr Neil Bentley said: "Last year four times as many working hours were lost because of visits to the doctor as to industrial action because staff had no choice but to visit their surgery in office hours.

"The £1bn cost to the economy of this inflexible family doctor service is shouldered by everyone."

But Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the British Medical Association GPs' committee, said that a recent survey of more than two million people in England showed the `vast majority' of patients were happy with surgery opening hours.

He said only four per cent of patients wanted their practice to open in the evening, and seven per cent on a Saturday morning. Dr Buckman said: "GPs are spending more time with their patients and dealing with more complex cases, including taking on work that was previously provided by the local hospital.

"If GPs were to extend hours, without extra resources, there could be an adverse impact on the daytime service."

The government wants GP surgeries to open for an extra half an hour for every 1,000 patients, in blocks of one and a half hours. For an average GP practice with 6,000 patients, this would mean an extra three hours a week.