GPs across England have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking collective action, meaning the implementation of a type of work to rule where appointments could be limited to a set number each day.
More than 8,500 GPs in England took part in the ballot and 98.3% voted in favour of taking part in one or more examples of collective action in a dispute over funding levels.
This means, from today (August 1), the British Medical Association will encourage practices to choose from a list of ten actions, and practices can implement as few or as many as they think appropriate.
Actions may include refusing to share patient data unless it’s in the best interests of a patient, referring patients directly to specialist care rather than following longer and more complex NHS processes, switching off NHS software which tries to cut prescribing costs and limiting the number of patient appointments per day. Members could cap appointments at 25 per day, almost half the number some GPs would generally take.
The British Medical Association says that historically, practices have worked above and beyond their contracts to keep up with patient demand, while being instructed to offer extra services by NHS England.
The association adds that despite warning the Government that they’re being forced to do more with less, GPs have been repeatedly ignored and not given the funding they need to handle growing pressures.
Of the entire NHS budget, general practices get only 6% of guaranteed funding. The BMA’s GPC England Committee believes this needs to gradually increase by 1% year on year, to 15%.
GPs will not be shutting their doors and the BMA says many of the actions will lead to them spending more time with their patients, while showing how problems are generated by NHS wider system and national mismanagement and bureaucracy.
‘GPs are at the end of their tether’
Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of BMA’s GP committee for England (GPCE), said: “We had a huge response to this ballot, and the results are clear – GPs are at the end of their tether. This is an act of desperation.
“For too long, we’ve been unable to provide the care we want to. We are witnessing general practice being broken. The era of the family doctor has been wiped out by recent consecutive Governments and our patients are suffering as a result.
“There have been countless opportunities to address the funding crisis in general practice, and despite almost 100% of GPs voting to reject the 2024/25 contract earlier this year, still nothing was done.
“Practices are now struggling to keep the lights on, can’t afford to hire much needed GPs and other staff, and some have even closed for good. The new Government is keen to find solutions but the causes of practices closing and GPs leaving remain, these actions will help keep practices open and keep GPs in the NHS workforce so can buy time for Mr Streeting to make the necessary changes that were promised in the Labour Party’s election manifesto.”
Dr Bramall-Stainer added: “This will not be a ‘big bang’. It will be a slow burn. It’s likely that impact may not be felt for some time. We hope this will give the new Government time to consider our proposed solutions including fixing our contract once and for all.”
‘Continue to come forward for care’
The NHS is asking the public to still come forward as usual for care during the action.
During collective action, practices are still required to be open between 8am and 6:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Patients should continue to use 111 for urgent medical help when their GP practice is unavailable and if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency call 999.
Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, said: “GPs and their teams are the bedrock of the NHS, and we recognise they are working really hard and dealing with record demand. On behalf of patients, the NHS has a duty to plan for collective action, and we will continue to work with government to find a resolution and end collective action.
“Our message to the public remains the same – they should continue to come forward for care during this collective action, as GP practices will remain open.”
The 10 actions for collective action can be found at: GP contract 2024/25 changes (bma.org.uk)
