Government plans to improve digital access to health services are a distraction from the real challenges facing the NHS, senior doctors warn today.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt is due to make a series of announcements about the use of technology to improve patient involvement with their care.

He will say that all patients should have access to GP medical records and appointment systems by June next year.

Mr Hunt said it was part of the “quieter and equally transformative opportunity” provided by the digital era.

He will also propose to extend on-line access to the 111 service together with MyNHS, which provides public access to clinical datasets.

Writing yesterday Mr Hunt said: By digitising, sharing and democratising healthcare information and advice, we can deliver the same sort of transfer of power and control to the individual that we’ve seen in the media and across popular culture.

“And arming people with the right information to enable them to self-care, self-determine and intelligently self-select their healthcare options according to personal need is the best way we can protect against the fear — most recently expressed by Martha Lane Fox — that technology may widen health inequality within our society.”

But BMA GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said: “GPs have been the leaders in developing and using electronic records and innovative digital technologies and are always looking for new ways to enhance and support patient care. It’s also important that these systems are well supported and that patients are given the right information on how best to use them safely.

“However, new technologies that are created with the intention of improving access won’t solve the fundamental problem that there are simply not enough GP and nurse appointments available for patients, as there are not enough GPs and nurses available to offer them or meet the growing needs of our patients.

“With the NHS at breaking point, we need the government to take the evidence of a workforce crisis seriously and act to implement a long term, well-funded plan that results in more GPs being available to treat the public.”