Barnet is set to get three times less extra money than other London boroughs for a new seven-day GP service, despite being the largest in London.

General practitioner doctors’ services are set to remain open seven days a week under a new NHS initiative set to roll out in April.

However, it has been revealed Barnet is set to gain only £1.90 in extra funding per person, while Enfield receives £5.42, Haringey gets £4.75 and Camden gets £3.78.

Islington will be set to receive £5.84 extra funding per person which is three times more than Barnet.

Barnet NHS Needs You is a new campaign calling on Barnet NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to ask the public if they actually want seven-day a week opening for GPs before spending the money.

The campaign is asking why the funding for longer opening has not been shared out equally across London boroughs.

Extended hours are due to start in April but no contracts for the service are set up.

East Finchley GP Dr Claire Mitchell said: “GPs are already delivering 24 hour, seven days a week care despite severe shortages.

“Forcing practices to open longer may well reduce availability of GPs at times of peak demand during the week, when most patients actually want to be seen.

“The crisis in the NHS extends well beyond primary care.

“Altering GP opening hours will do nothing to solve the issues which are contributing to the difficulties many patients are facing currently.”

Campaigners also said they were aware of rising concern from residents about staff shortages in GP practices and difficulty getting appointments.

The NHS GP Access Fund has allocated £6.1m to Barnet and the other four boroughs making up the North Central London NHS, for the extra opening hours due to start in April.

It has been split between Barnet £725,000 (population 384,000), Enfield £1.8m (332,000), Haringey £1.3m (273,700), Islington £1.3m (222,600) and Camden £900,000 (238,000).

East Barnet councillor for Labour Phil Cohen has also pledged his support for the campaign.

He said: “Taxpayers’ money is being spent on this even though no one has asked patients in Barnet if they want to go to the GP on Saturdays and Sundays.

“In other parts of the country, GPs have given up on Sunday opening because there wasn’t enough demand.”