Being a doctor is not a 9-to-5 job, British general practitioners must be willing to see patients on weekends and at night, said British Health Secretary Alan Johnson. To emphasize his point, Johnson even wrote to all surgeon in England, asking them to reconsider having longer consultation hours.

The Health Secretary said he found the 9-to-5 culture among GPs as anomalous. Johnson wanted longer clinic hours for physicians. "When you ask the public and patients what the main thing is that they are still unhappy about the NHS, it is about being able to see their GP at a time more convenient for them." Johnson said.

Johnson proposed that surgeries be open three more extra hours each week. But the British Medical Association is willing to give only two more additional hours. He added, "I don't think it is unreasonable that people should be able to expect to see their GP in the evenings or on Saturday morning.

The BMA insisted it is not true that many patients are not satisfied with the consultation hours offered by GPs. It also quoted research that only a fourth of Britons surveyed express a preference to see their doctors in the evening.

Dr. Laurence Buckman, chairman of the Association GPs Committee pointed out medical doctors are already spending more hours with patients and deal now with more complex cases, while taking over work done before by a local hospital.

Buckman added that by adding more hours to GPs' schedules, "It could take appointments away from the patients who need and use their local surgery the most - older people, mothers with young children and those with chronic conditions," Buckman said.

Dr. Chaand Nagpaul of the MBA said GPs are prepared to give more flexible and extended hours, while it accused the state of rigidity in approach to the issue. The GPS warned Britons if they are made to extend office hours, the first victims of this move are the doctors' daytime services.