A survey by Barnsley Primary care Trust found 75 per cent of people said a choice of practice was "very" or "quite" important to them.

But Barnsley PCT bosses said they are "one step ahead" with "choice and world-class care set to be a reality" across the borough within the next "two to three years".

Three new surgeries and a town centre walk-in clinic are set to open in the town by April next year. It is hoped the new practices will kick-start a wave of recruitment and boost patient choice in a town which is currently understaffed by 35 GPs.

A PCT spokesman said: "It means we will be able to attract more local GPs to stay in the area. Currently many newly trained GPs leave Barnsley because there are few opportunities to develop and practise their full range of skills.

But Coun Len Picken, chair of the health scrutiny commission, said: "We have known for nine years we are understaffed in Barnsley.

"Where are the new GPs coming from? You can't just pluck a GP out of thin air."

The 75 per cent figure was revealed on the day health minister Ben Bradshaw said he wanted everyone to have a real choice of GP practice - and accused some GPs of blocking it. He claimed some family doctors had "gentlemen's agreements" and refused to accept other GPs' patients - a claim denied by the British Medical Association.

The Government claims patient choice is important because it creates competition between GPs which raises standards.

Assistant director of commissioning for Barnsley PCT, Ed Reilly, said: "The range and quality of services offered by the GP-led health centre and the new practices will set the bar for world-class care in Barnsley.

"We want people across Barnsley to receive a consistently high standard of care at a time and a place convenient for them and we will continue to work with all practices across the borough to come up to that standard."

The new surgeries will be in the Cudworth, Monk Bretton and Dearne South and North wards.