England is to get “local care networks” in which GPs, physicians and social services work together, NHS England has said.

The networks will involve neighbourhoods of 30,000 to 50,000 people.

In a “half-time” report on its five-year plan, NHS England claimed to be making progress on its plans to improve primary care – promising that by 2019 everyone would have access to GP services in the evening and at weekends.

It said the local care networks would mean clinicians and staff “working together more closely and getting to know their populations better so they can provide the right care in the right place by the right professional at the right time.

“Making the most of the full primary care team’s skills will help free up GPs so that they are better able to help patients with complex or multiple long-term conditions.”

NHS England said it had increased the numbers in GP training by 10% in the last two years – although GP leaders say it is far short of its target of increasing GP numbers by 5,000.

NHS England director of primary care Dr Arvind Madan said: “If we look back to where general practice was a year ago, I think we have made significant progress but the journey is far from over.

“The measures we are setting out today will continue to build momentum behind the wider transformation of primary care and help us deliver the high quality, flexible health service that is needed in the face of ever-rising patient demand.”

But British Medical Association chair Dr Mark Porter said: “The constant calls for more GPs to be available for longer is not matched by the reality on the ground – far from delivering 5,000 extra GPs promised by the government, figures from earlier this week show that the number of fulltime GPs is, in fact, falling.”

He added: “At a time when our hospitals are in deficit, GPs are unable to keep up with the number of patients coming through the surgery door and staff are working under impossible conditions, we need an honest look at the pressures facing the NHS and how to give the investment needed to match the promises made.”