A significant proportion of primary care trusts are still not providing adequate occupational health services for GPs and their staff, a survey has found.

Of the 304 trusts polled by the British Medical Association, 37 provided no free service for doctors and health workers, while a further 29 provided "patchy" services.

This is despite a pledge made in the 2000 NHS Plan, that occupational health services would be available from April 2001.

"In the light of these results, we hope that we can work with the Department of Health to improve the provision of occupational health services so that GPs and their staff can make the best possible contribution to improving patient care," said Susan Robson, chairwoman of the BMA's occupational health committee.

Dr John Chisholm, chairman of the general practitioners' committee at the BMA, argued that funds allocated for this provision were probably being used for other services.

"Last year, the Department of Health wrote to all chief executives of English primary care organisations to remind them that funding should be made available to meet the occupational health needs of GPs and their staff by 31 December 2002," he said.

"Our survey reveals that despite the department's commitment, a huge number of GPS and their staff still do not have access to even basic occupational health services.

"It seems likely that the money allocated to provide these services has been spent elsewhere."