The union said using APs to fill doctor rotas was a risk to patient safety and its FoI data showed a postcode lottery for patients.

BMA council chair Tom Dolphin said: ‘Our colleagues in advanced practice roles are valued members of our multidisciplinary teams. Yet our research reveals an NHS management that will risk patient safety to push these professionals out of what they do best and use them as spare capacity to fill up understaffed doctors' rotas.

‘Many trusts have clearly and sensibly told us they would not put a non-doctor into the role of a doctor. Other trusts have unashamedly responded that they have done. That these responses split almost down the middle is an indictment of an approach by trusts and the NHS which means that where you live determines whether you will be seen by a doctor or by someone else for the same condition.'

An NHS spokesperson said: ‘NHS guidance is clear – advanced practitioners are highly skilled practitioners and are valued members of NHS teams alongside doctors. These roles should not replace the role of doctors and should only be used in line with their competence and qualifications, and all staff are able to raise concerns where they are worried about patient and staff safety.'