Many parts of England are proving reluctant to meet government targets to extend “access” to GPs, according to a new analysis.

Local clinical commissioning groups are meant to ensure practices offer weekend and evening (after 6.30pm) appointments from April 2019.

According to the latest figures 98 out of 209 CCGs still offer no extended access and there are none offering full access.

Only 12 CCGs offer all patients at least partial extended access.

The information was collected by NHS England and obtained by the Health Service Journal.

GP leaders say there may be other local priorities for scarce NHS resources.

Graham Jackson, co-chair of NHS Clinical Commissioners, told the journal: “Beyond the finances there is, of course, the current workforce challenges that will undoubtedly impact on achieving the extended access requirements.

“There is no one size fits all solution for delivering the extended access requirement and it is critical that CCGs are given the freedoms and flexibilities to invest in the best way for their local populations.”

And Dr Richard Vautrey, chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee, said: “The BMA is concerned that this programme is fundamentally flawed.

“At a time when general practice and the wider NHS is under such unprecedented pressure, any new funding should be directed towards solving the current crisis in day to day services and not trying to expand an already overstretched service more thinly.”

But an NHS England spokesman said: “We know just how much the public value a timely GP appointment, so it is encouraging to see from these figures that local GP practices, by working together, are offering evening and weekend appointments to the vast majority.”