A cash-strapped health district is set to claw back funding from practices as part of a £9 million savings plan, it has been revealed.

The cutbacks in primary care spending in the Vale Royal and South Cheshire clinical commissioning groups will save just £180,000, the Health Service Journal reported.

The CCGs say the cut-backs will not have an impact on contracted GP spending – but will see other primary care budgets capped and planned expansion halted.

The plans also involve making a £4.5 million saving on elective care and identifying another £4.8 million worth of savings.

British Medical Association GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said: “We regularly hear that general practice is a priority for the NHS and that the intention is to increase the share of NHS spending on general practice.

“However the reality is that all too often the words are not being matched by actions.

“Capped expenditure plans are leading to cuts in services at a time when the needs of patients is growing. General practice desperately needs real terms increases in investment, not more funding freezes or cuts.”