The Northwich Guardian contacted eight surgeries but six refused to comment and the other two were repeatedly "unavailable".

And a spokesman from South Cheshire Health Authority said: "The data we collect from GPs runs two months behind, so at this stage we wouldn't know what they are doing."

But patients' watchdog, the Cheshire Central Community Health Council, says we have a right to know how doctors are spending public money.

Chief Officer, Jean French, said: "What we want is a system that's fair to everyone - the treatment we get shouldn't depend on where we live. And patients want to know what they might expect - it's unfair.

"The conditions allowing treatment at the moment are very limited.

"People will be very disappointed."

Doctors are currently half way through a six week trial period, designed to test demand for the drug.

Health secretary Frank Dobson only wants Viagra prescribed to certain impotence sufferers - men with spinal cord injury, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, certain neurological disease and those who've had pelvic or prostrate surgery.

Those with impotence caused by psychological problems and the side effects of other drugs would not be eligible.

He also wants to give doctors the chance to prescribe it privately - without taking any fees for it.

But the British Medical Association is advising doctors to prescribe Viagra on the NHS while they still can - until the end of February.

The surgeries who refused to comment were:

Doctors Hollinrake, Murphy, Saunders and Patrick on Witton Street.

Doctors Cronin, Anthwal and Kilby on Middlewich Road.

Oakwood Lane Surgery in Barnton.

Doctors Brettell, Down and Bill on Watling Street.

Castle Surgery.

Doctors Oldfield, Royle, Jennings and Llewellyn at Weaverham Surgery.

Doctors at Danebridge Group Practice on London Road and Doctor Hughes on Watling Street were unavailable for comment.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.