Shropshire GP Dr. Jess Harvey told BBC Radio 4’s Today program the training sessions would be “really challenging”.

“During these contract negotiations for our new contract, if we don’t get a decent wage to cover National Insurance inflation, then we’re going to be in a really tough spot,” he said.

“There will be practices that initiate layoffs. “There are practices already considering redundancies because it is so difficult to manage financially and if we cannot get enough money to continue running these practices then we will not be able to provide the service people want.”

Asked whether GP salaries should “take a hit” to cover costs, Dr Harvey said: “How general practice is funded, that has nothing to do with GPs, it’s not about my salary. I don’t want my salary to go up.”

‘Exempt GPs from tax rise’

Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrats’ health and social care spokesperson, said: “We are calling on the Chancellor to change course and exempt GPs from the tax increase.”

“This new Government must not make the same mistakes as the Conservatives, fixing the GP crisis is crucial to saving the NHS.

“If people can be checked quicker, fewer people will go to hospital for treatment. That’s better for patients, better for the NHS and better for taxpayers.”

The British Medical Association said on Thursday that health ministers were “in discussions with the Treasury” on the issue.

Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA’s GP committee, said she had held discussions with health secretary Stephen Kinnock, while BMA Council chairman Phil Banfield had done the same with Health Minister Wes Streeting.

He argued that NHS GP practices “count as public sector”, citing the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which defines them as “public sector authorities”.