GPs’ leaders last week appeared to have given in to government pressure to extend the opening hours of general practices. In a letter to GPs ahead of a poll this month to gauge attitudes to the changes to their contract the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee advises members that accepting the latest offer will be better than having a tougher deal imposed on them in April.

Under the deal GPs’ surgeries would be open for an additional 30 minutes per week per 1000 registered patients, in blocks of 1.5 hours after 6 30 pm or for 1 hour before 8 am or on a Saturday morning. The extended hours will be funded by redirecting £158m (€210m; $310) from the 2007-8 contract together with …