GP practices will be given £240million for new phone systems so patients no longer face engaged tones or lengthy waits during the 8am scramble for appointments.

Receptionists will also receive more training to direct callers to the medic best suited to their needs.

Practices will not be allowed to tell patients to phone back later and must offer an appointment or assessment on the same day or refer them to the likes of a pharmacist or A&E.

It comes after surveys revealed public satisfaction with GPs has hit an all-time low, with patients particularly frustrated by difficulties accessing a doctor and getting through on the phone.

An average-sized practice of 10,000 patients often receives more than 100 calls in the first hour every Monday but many patients could be seen by someone other than a family doctor.

The digital phone systems will add callers to a queue, inform them of their position and allow them to request a call back.

Online tools will offer patients an alternative way of finding the right professional for their needs, such as a pharmacist, and allow them to book appointments. The changes will feature in the Government’s GP access recovery plan published tomorrow.

It also expected to create a greater role for pharmacists to help ease the strain on doctors.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: ‘We are already making real progress with 10 per cent more GP appointments happening every month compared to before the pandemic. I want to make sure people receive the right support when they contact their general practice and bring an end to the 8am scramble for appointments.

‘To do this we are improving technology and reducing bureaucracy, increasing staffing and changing the way primary care services are provided.’

The Government will fund 6,500 so-called care navigator training places – one staff member per practice – who will be expected to pass on the training to colleagues.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, of the Royal College of GPs, welcomed the investment but said more must be done.

‘We await further details of the full access recovery plan, but ultimately the best way to improve access to GP care and address the intense workload and workforce pressures GP teams are working under is to increase numbers of fully trained, full-time equivalent GPs through effective recruitment and retention schemes,’ she added.

Labour health spokesman Wes Streeting said: ‘The reason people can’t get a GP appointment is the Conservatives have cut 2,000 GPs. Better hold music isn’t going to change that.

‘Nothing in this announcement will train more doctors, allow patients to choose a face-to-face appointment, or bring back the family doctor so patients see the same GP each time.’

Average household energy bills could fall to below £2,000 a year this summer after a slump in gas prices, analysts predict.

Annual gas and electricity charges may dip to £1,900 for the typical household by July as ‘normality’ returns to the energy market.

The current energy price cap – set in April – is £3,280 a year.

Figures show that the gas price has returned to where it was 15 months ago, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent shockwaves through the energy sector.

Experts have said falling gas prices will bring huge relief to families burdened by eye-watering energy costs.

Rising prices resulted in the collapse of about 30 energy suppliers in the UK from 2021 on, and led to the Government paying billions of pounds in taxpayer support.

A surge in the price of wholesale gas was also a key driver in the cost-of-living crisis, helping push inflation into double digits.

Tony Jordan at energy consultancy Auxilione said ‘fear is coming out of the markets’. He added: ‘The gas price is about 80p a therm. Back in August, it was £7. We were forecasting some scary numbers but the price has really come down. It is heading in the right direction.’

Energy regulator Ofgem will set the next price cap at the end of this month to cover the period from July to September.

Customers have typically been paying less than Ofgem’s level as the Government’s separate Energy Price Guarantee capped the typical household bill at £2,500 a year.

Jordan said lower wholesale gas prices would start filtering through to people’s bills by the summer, which is when the Energy Price Guarantee ends.

Simon Cran-McGreehin, head of analysis at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said gas prices have plunged thanks to Europe weaning itself off Russian supplies. He said the ‘remarkable’ drop in energy usage across the Continent and UK also eased pressure on prices. 

Government data shows that energy demand fell to levels not seen in 50 years throughout winter as millions tried to minimise the energy they used at home.

But Cran-McGreehin warned the price of wholesale gas could remain up to three times higher than before the crisis if countries keep avoiding energy from Russia.

An Ofgem spokesman said: ‘Right now, we anticipate the next price cap will be lower, but future levels remain uncertain.’

The regulator said lower prices were good news for competition returning to the market as suppliers will be able to offer customers cheaper deals.

Cran-McGreehin added: ‘Competition was one of the many casualties of the energy crisis because all customers ended up on the price cap. Now that prices have fallen, there is more leeway for suppliers to offer different tariffs.’

Jonathan Brearley, Ofgem boss, said last month it is ‘unlikely prices will return to those seen before 2021’.