The Royal College of GPs survey found 58% of GPs said they do not have enough time to adequately assess and treat patients during appointments, while 57% do not have time to build the relationships with patients they need to deliver quality care.

The college's survey also found significant concern amongst GPs over the new neighbourhood health services proposed in the 10-Year Health Plan, with 68% of respondents reporting worries over the lack of GPs to effectively deliver them, and the impact the introduction of neighbourhood health services would have on GP workload.

Specifically, GPs' concerns around neighbourhood working include:

• 65% reported concerns over a lack of clarity on funding allocation
• 65% reported a lack of clarity over the role of GPs
• 7% are concerned about insufficient capacity and resources to support the implementation, transition and sustainability of the new model of care delivery; and
• 48% are concerned about the lack of resources for GP leadership.

The college warns that these figures demonstrate the extent of the workload crisis in general practice – and that an increase in core GP funding will be vital to address this, as the government begins the roll out of its 10-Year Health Plan.

In her final conference address to around 2,000 conference delegates, college Chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne , said: ‘Our survey shows that many of you are worried about the neighbourhood health services proposed in the 10-Year Health Plan – concerned about GP shortages, increased workload, unclear funding plans and the future of GP partnerships. I understand that apprehension completely. When your workload is like a river that never stops flowing, no matter how hard you work, no matter how many hours you put in, it is difficult to have the mental capacity even to think about long-term strategy.

‘And many who do grapple with it say they are caught between hope and scepticism. They are hopeful because the aspirations in the 10-Year Health Plan make sense. They are sceptical because they have heard similar hopes expressed before.'

Prof Hawthorne added: ‘Government rhetoric has too often been about moving care out of hospital and into the community while the funding has gone in the opposite direction.'

To tackle help tackle these resource concerns, the college is calling for a sustained increase in core funding for general practice, in particular a Primary Care Investment Standard that mandates yearly funding increases.

Prof Hawthorne said: ‘If GPs are to provide expanded services to patients as part of the new Neighbourhood Health Service model, it's a no-brainer that we will need many more family doctors.'

In addition, she restated the college's support for 10-Year Health Plan, saying: ‘We all know that good intentions alone won't deliver good outcomes and that a great vision doesn't guarantee a great NHS. However, without good intentions and without a vision, we have no hope. And a vision which favours community health care above hospitalisation and champions prevention above sickness is one I can certainly buy into.'