A top Government adviser is due to call for one-stop shops where general practitioners and consultants work side-by-side.
GP tsar David Colin-Thome will urge family doctors to take on more responsibilities within the NHS, such as minor operations and post-surgery check-ups.
In a report supporting NHS reforms, he will also argue that patients should be able to access consultants on the same site as GPs.
Operations like cataracts, hernia and varicose veins could be carried out down the corridor from patients' GPs, he will say, cutting waiting times and saving money.
Dr Colin-Thome, national clinical director, said: "Patients trust GPs. We're highly trained, offer high quality cost-effective services and our communities respect us, so why aren't we doing even more?
"Our training allows us to spot the first signs of cancer, give advice on weight loss and deal with depression and desperation.
"Many of us specialise in particular aspects of medicine and the nurses, midwives and pharmacists we work with have similar skills which the public value.
"Expanding the services GPs, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and other key staff such as physiotherapists provide in our communities and homes makes sense."
Dr Colin-Thome will say there is an economic case for the enhanced role of GPs while it would also take pressure off hospitals to allow them to concentrate on specialist services.
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said patients wanted more healthcare closer to their homes.
