We have followed the correspondence in The Press over extended GP opening hours (Who do doctors actually serve, Letters, January 18) and felt in necessary to correct some misconceptions before all sides become too entrenched:

1. GPs are self-employed; no one pays us a salary

2. Some 84 per cent of patients surveyed by the Government were satisfied with present opening hours. We have also discussed this with our patient forums and had no adverse comments

3. In 2004 the Government signed and priced a contract with GPs to provide routine care between 8am and 6.30pm. Outside these hours medical care is provided by the out-of-hours service run by the primary care trust

4. If we extend opening hours this will cost the practices for receptionist, nurse and doctor time, as well as energy costs, and in some places, security. The Government proposes to take money from existing services to pay for the extended opening hours as opposed to providing new money for a new service. The old services will be lost if their funding is withdrawn

5. We do understand that there is a convenience/work issue for some patients. We have tried to work with the Government to provide an affordable way of extending opening hours without reducing other services. Unfortunately the Government has placed the opening hours issue above improvements in clinical care, and it is this to which we object

6. The Government has resorted to bullying tactics in that if practices do not accept this deal they will have significant cuts in funding imposed

7. We see a similarity between unreasonable contract offers to NHS dentistry and ourselves. How easy is it to find an NHS dentist now?

Dr David Hartley and Dr Johanna Lowther, Askham Bryan, York.