A senior GP has criticised the decision to allow a major expansion of the controversial smartphone-based practice GP At Hand after it emerged that NHS England had reached a deal to allow the London-based practice to expand into Birmingham.

The move had been blocked for months but GP At Hand – run by Babylon Health – gained a powerful supporter in Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who uses its services.

The latest deal has been reached between NHS England, the Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group and the service’s home CCG in Hammersmith and Fulham.

GP At Hand’s expansion had been blocked on the grounds it could not provide patients access to local clinics for physical procedures, such as immunisation and screening. But new arrangements will ensure that its patients have this access.

The service has been accused of cherry-picking young and healthy patients. British Medical Association GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said he was “incredibly disappointed.”

He said: “The well-documented problems that GP at Hand patients have experienced in London, as well as the disruption it has caused to local funding arrangements, will likely only be replicated in new cities if the service is rolled out there.

“Following this decision, NHS England must make it their priority – as promised in the GP contract agreement – to complete its review into the out of area arrangements that GP at Hand has exploited for too long.

“The Secretary of State has been clear in his ambitions for tech and the NHS, and equally, GPs would like to offer video consultations to their own patients. These patients would benefit far more from being seen by a doctor close by and with a full understanding of their medical history, rather than someone miles away from their home.

“But to make this a reality, there must be investment in practice IT infrastructure – including improved broadband capability in surgeries – to create a level playing field with private companies such as Babylon.”

A GP at Hand spokesman said: “We welcome the decision to allow the expansion of Babylon GP at Hand to people living and working in Birmingham. The NHS long-term plan and GP contract framework set the vision for digital-first primary care and we look forward to making this a reality, in Birmingham and across the country.

“We will continue to work closely with NHS commissioners, regulators and local providers on the safe and effective delivery of all our services.”