Proposals from a senior politician to charge patients for GP and emergency department visits are “morally bankrupt”, a leading GP has declared.

The proposals were put forward over the weekend by former Health Secretary Sajid Javid. Javid ended his period as Health Secretary last year and claimed he has had time to “think” subsequently.

Writing for The Times, he argued that other European countries have access charges with means testing used to ensure low income patients do not have to pay. In Norway and Sweden patients pay about £20 to see a GP while in Ireland patients have to pay 75 Euros if they want to “walk in” to an emergency department.

The NHS charges for prescriptions, he said, adding: “Given the challenges facing the NHS today, we should look seriously on a cross-party basis at extending the contributory principle to other parts of the service.”

Speaking to Sky News, GP Dr Helen Salisbury, from Keep Our NHS Public, described the proposal as “morally bankrupt and medically very inept,” warning it would drive health inequalities. Dr Salisbury said: “What this would do would make it okay for people who have money and not okay for people who don’t. We pay our taxes so everybody can get healthcare when it’s needed. If we’d like the rest of the health service to go the same way as dentistry this is the way to go but it’s not a good way.”