GPs are threatening to break away from NHS and calling on their union to help them set up a "private alternative model," in a vote next week.

The motion, due to be debated by a national conference of doctors next week, follows repeated claims by the British Medical Association that the health service is at breaking point.

The proposal calls on the union to support GPs who want to charge patients fees for their services, instead of being funded by the NHS.

Patients’ groups last night said the prospect was “frightening” and said taxpayers should not be expected to “pay twice over” for healthcare, having already funded the training of such doctors .

A motion drawn up by Bedfordshire local medical committee (LMC) calls on the BMA’s GP committee (GPC) to support privatisation of services.

“Given that a number of GPs genuinely feel that they can no longer operate within the NHS, conference calls on GPC England to urgently look at how these GPs can be supported to operate within a private, alternative model,” the agenda reveals.

The GP leaders will gather in London on Friday, 10 November to vote on national policies for the BMA’s GP committe.