Doctors have little confidence in the Government’s national review of NHS services, with nearly half believing it will not achieve Gordon Brown’s aim of improving access to family doctors, a survey for The Times has found.

Despite the Prime Minister’s pledge to consult more doctors and his appointment of leading surgeon Lord Darzi to conduct the review, the largest poll of the medical profession on the subject suggests that many doctors are exasperated and disillusioned with the project.

In a survey carried out by doctors.net.uk, Britain’s largest medical web-site, a clear majority of GPs, hospital consultants and junior doctors said that they did not agree with or were unsure about the measures outlined so far by Lord Darzi.

These include plans to build 100 new doctors’ surgeries and 150 “polyclinics” – hosting GPs with other services such as dentistry and physio-therapy – which patients could access seven days a week and outside office hours.

Of the 600 doctors questioned for the Times, 50 per cent said that “getting doctors to work more hours” was one of the aims least likely to be achieved by the Darzi review.

Gordon Brown said that the review was designed to make the NHS the “best it can be”, after ministers came under attack for changes to the GP contract in 2004 which allowed doctors to give up out-of-hours care, while granting them huge pay rises.

Lord Darzi announced his aims nine days ago, after spending three months considering the views of patients and NHS staff. His report also includes measures to combat superbug infections such as MRSA, and a £100 million fund to support technological advancements.

Almost half of all doctors and three quarters of GPs said that the suggested reforms would not improve access to local doctors, while the review was considered “nothing more than a political tool” by 41 per cent.

Half said that the Department of Health would have difficulty securing the funding needed, suggesting that the reforms could lead to cutbacks in hospital services.

Asked what important measures had been left out of Lord Darzi’s interim report, 61 per cent of doctors called for further investment in existing services and 46 per cent for more training programmes.

Tim Ringrose, a hospital doctor and medical director of doctors.net.uk, which counts 148,000 doctors among its users, said: “The main theme that emerges from the results and discussions on our message boards is the lack of input doctors have had on these changes. Despite the Government’s pledge to avoid large-scale structural change, the plans for polyclinics and walk-in centres seem to be just that. More than 60 per cent say that funds should be granted to improve existing services, rather than new create new ones.”

Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, said: “As a clinician he is held in high regard but I am unconvinced that Lord Darzi is in a position to speak on behalf of doctors across the country.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health commented: “This survey is self-selecting and unrepresentative of the majority of doctors’ views.

“Last week’s interim report focused on the issues that matter to patients and the public. Lord Darzi has spent months travelling the country and listening to people’s views about their NHS and it’s wrong to suggest doctors haven’t been involved.”

Lord Darzi’s final report is expected next year.

Times questions

Overall, do you agree with the measures outlined in the NHS review?

Yes 13% No 39% Unsure 48%

What measure are you least in favour of?

Extended opening hours 48% Weekend opening hours 18% Introduction of polyclinics 13% MRSA screenings & hygiene inspections 9% Other 12%

Do you think the suggested reforms will improve family access to doctors?

Yes 29% No 49% Unsure 22%

Which statement do you most agree with?

The review is nothing more than a political tool 41% Doctors were not consulted properly as part of this review 31% Details of many measures have not been thought through 16% The review was not comprehensive and completed in too short a time 9% It was a thorough report which will improve the NHS 2%

In your view, what improvement measures were missing from the report?

Further investment in existing medical facilities 61% More training programmes 46% Increase in GP numbers 43% Increased security in hospitals 23% Other 7%

Source: On behalf of The Times, Doctors.net polled 198 hospital consultants, 200 junior doctors and 202 GPs on October 10

Explore Health News

• Swine flu

Times Recommends

• Oh no, Mr Darling: you have failed
• BBC survives dogfight over Kennel Club expose
• Where the Rosetta belongs can’t be set in stone