NHS Employers seek 1% rise for GPs

In its evidence to the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body, the pay body said this should be enough to deliver inflationary pay lifts for both partners and staff.

But it added that practices should expect to make a 1% efficiency saving, adding: 'The extent to which general medical practitioners will be able to increase their profits will largely depend on their ability to deliver efficiencies and improved productivity.'

The move follows chancellor Alistair Darling's request that practices be given no uplift in funding. The BMA is calling for 2%.