Now the GPs could strike! Doctors ‘overwhelmingly’ reject new NHS contract that threatens to put practices out of business in next six months

GP practices could be forced to close within six months as a new NHS contract will make many financially unviable, doctors have warned.

The British Medical Association raised the alarm as it emerged that members have voted ‘overwhelmingly’ to reject the government’s changes to their terms of service.

The outcome brings GPs one step closer to industrial action later this year, which could disrupt patient care.

However, a government source said there will be no further negotiations and the 2024/25 contract will be enforced from April 1 despite the outcome.

More than 19,000 GPs and GP registries took part in the union’s referendum, with 99.2 per cent voting ‘no’ when asked whether they would accept the deal.

The vote was not a formal union vote, but was billed as a “temperature check” of the profession that will inform future steps.

The BMA said GPs are feeling ‘frustrated, angry and upset’ and claimed the contract will see practices receive a ‘basic contract funding increase of well below 1.9 per cent inflation’.

This means that “many practices will struggle to remain financially viable over the next six to 12 months and are at risk of closure,” it added.

The Mail reported earlier this year that the BMA had set an approximate timeline for possible industrial action by GPs this winter, which could coincide with the general election campaign.

A formal vote on industrial action will be required before a strike or subsequent action can take place.

Collective action may include closing the practice list to new patients or working toward rule.

A government source said: ‘We have imposed the contract so that is not really a subject for further debate.

‘The new contract reduces administrative burden – and further pay increases could follow as a result of the independent pay review process.’

Since the start of February, around 2,400 additional GPs have joined the union, meaning 70 per cent of qualified GPs are now members.

Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA’s GP committee for England, said: ‘Today’s overwhelming result marks the start of our fight back, and we will take our patients with us.

‘GP teams across England have almost 1.4 million patient contacts per day.

‘That’s a lot of conversations, and we all want the same thing: access to continuity of care with the GP in a local GP practice with the right balance between GPs, nurses and other staff, and with sufficient resources to meet the GP’s needs. their needs today, tomorrow and in the months and years to come.

‘That’s what patients want, and that’s what GPs want too.’

She added: ‘GPC England is meeting today to consider the profession’s next steps, in a move encouraged by 2,400 newly registered BMA GP members.’

The vote came as NHS England issued new guidance stating that junior doctors (PAs) are ‘not a replacement’ for GPs and must be supervised.

A new letter to all GP practices, primary care network clinical directors, integrated care council CEOs and regional directors of NHS England says that PAs are ‘specifically trained to work collaboratively with doctors and others’ and that all work carried out by PAs are required to ‘be supervised and questioned’ with their supervising GP’.

Concerns have been raised about the role of PAs after the death of a patient and other errors in care.

The letter from NHS England also reminds staff that ‘PAs are not in a position to prescribe’ and that every practice should have a comprehensive policy regarding access to and restrictions on electronic health records.

Entitled ‘role clarity’, the letter said there is a need to ensure patients understand who is caring for them.

“All clinical and clerical/clerical staff (e.g. receptionists) should be trained in the PA role and make it clear to patients that they are seeing a PA,” it added.

PAs are graduates – usually with a healthcare or life sciences degree – who have completed a two-year postgraduate degree, rather than a full medical degree, which can take five years.

Emily Chesterton, 30, died in November 2022 from a pulmonary embolism after being misdiagnosed twice by a PA when she attended her local GP practice in Crouch End, north London.

She had been under the impression that she was going to a GP when she went to a PA after being triaged by a practice receptionist.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We greatly value the work of GPs and their teams and it is disappointing that the BMA has voted against the contract.

‘There are now 800 more doctors working in general practice compared to last February, and last year the NHS provided 50 million more GP appointments than five years ago.’