The NHS lacks a “credible” plan to achieve a sustainable workforce in general practice, MPs have alleged.

And projects promising to improve patient access to GPs are failing to get the best from existing resources, according to the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons.

The MPs cast doubt on promises of recruiting 5,000 extra GPs – pointing out that numbers have reduced in the last year.

Health Education England also failed to meet its recruitment target for trainees last year – in spite of increasing numbers, they say.

Health Education England and NHS England have initiatives in place but are “pursuing these discrete initiatives without a credible plan for how to develop a cost-effective, sustainable workforce,” the report says.

The MPs say the Department of Health and NHS England are “moving ahead in rolling out extended hours without really understanding the level of access currently being provided or how to get the best from existing resources.”

The findings were welcomed by senior GPs.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “The fact that patients are finding it difficult to make an appointment is not because we are not working hard enough. It is because we don’t have the resources and workforce necessary to deliver the care and services our patients need and deserve.

“It is also not the case that just because face-to-face surgeries might not be taking place, patient care isn’t being delivered via telephone or on-line consultations, or by GPs making home visits – and when a practice is temporarily closed, adequate cover arrangements will be put in place.”

She added: “We agree with the report that forcing GPs to work 8-8, seven days a week, regardless of patient demand makes little sense and is not cost-effective – and we reiterate our concerns that this will simply detract from the routine five day service we are able to deliver for patients.”

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee, said: “This is yet another important report that highlights that general practice is under incredible strain with many GP practices struggling to cope with rising patient demand in a climate of stagnating budgets and staff shortages.”