PCTs that want practices to extend opening hours without paying them for the extra work have been condemned by GPs.

Under a scheme being rolled out across seven PCTs in the North East London SHA, practices will be offered cask to cover additional staff costs to enable them to open from 8am to 8pm for six or seven days a week for up to nine months.

PCTs will fund up to eight additional two-and-a-half-hour GP sessions per week, at a rate of