Six out of 10 GPs want to charge an average of £36 for home visits and £11 for missed appointments, a new survey has revealed.

The survey, carried out on behalf of Norwich Union Healthcare and based on an online poll of 150 GPs, also found that a quarter of doctors surveyed said they were thinking about leaving general practice in the next 12 months.

Forum Response: Norwich Union

Tim Baker, director of business development at Norwich Union Healthcare, said: "GPs are often at the forefront of what's happening in the healthcare industry and our research reveals that GPs certainly want the best for their patients and want to get them more involved in decisions regarding their health."

Forum Response: Countryside Alliance

Richard Burge, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: "In rural areas the only alternative to a GP call out is often a long journey to the nearest accident and emergency unit with little or no public service provision.

"If rural GPs charge for home visits they will be further marginalising low income families and increasing the difficulty rural people have accessing essential services. Rural accident and emergency units and surgeries are closing all the time - GPs should not consider asking rural people to choose between their health and their bank balance."