Investment in general practice has fallen by £400m over the past three years, according to analysis by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
In real terms this translates to a drop of 7 per cent spent in general practice per person in England between 2010 and 2013.
For the third year running general practice surgeries have suffered a decrease in funding and resources while the amount of money invested in hospitals and A&E units continues to rise.
Over 90 per cent of patient contact in the NHS occurs in general practice yet it receives only 9 per cent of the budget.
The RCGP will call on the government for a major investment in general practice.
Dr Clare Gerada, the chair of the RCGP, said that these figures should be a 'warning' to the government that there will be a catastrophe if urgent action is not taken.
The analysis has come as the DH announced a £50m programme that allows nine areas in England to bid for funding to pilot seven-day-access to general practice surgeries.
Dr Peter Carter, the chief executive of the RCN, said an extension of services would need to be effectively resourced to equip nurses working in general practice with adequate tools to cope with demand.