His written question in the House of Commons coincided with reports the Government is planning a £1 million super surgery, or polyclinic, in Scarborough’s town centre which could be the first in the county.

Mr Goodwill asked what importance the Government placed on the relationship bet-ween a GP and their patients in terms of their care policies.

Alan Johnson, the secretary of state for health, replied: “A patient’s relationship with their family doctor is of vital importance. List-based general practice is a key strength of the system that we have. It is valued by patients, doctors and the national health service as a whole.”

Mr Johnson added: “There is no contradiction between the desire by many patients to be seen by their own general practitioner and the £250 million investment we are making in expanding primary care provision particularly in under-doctored areas.”

The controversial clinic is expected to be up and running by May next year – despite opposition to the plans by GPs in Scarborough.

It will offer a 12-hour walk-in service seven days a week but Scarborough GPs say it is not needed.

They argue the Government has decided to “squander” £1 million a year of taxpayers’ money on the centre without any public consultation.

But the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust insisted the area would benefit from the new centre which would also offer sexual health and family planning, mental health and counselling services, substance misuse service and help for the homeless. There may also be a minor injury service.

Mr Goodwill said: “These super surgeries are an unwanted and unneeded waste of resources. If the Gov-ernment wants to put money into local health services it should give it to Scarborough Hosp-ital.”