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

GP surgeries could be forced to close in as little as six months as a new NHS contract will leave many financially unviable, doctors have warned.

The British Medical Association raised the alarm by revealing its members voted “overwhelmingly” to reject government changes to their terms of service.

The result brings family doctors one step closer to a strike later this year, which could disrupt patient care.

However, a Government source stated that there will be no further negotiations and that the 2024/25 contract will be imposed from April 1 despite the result.

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

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

The BMA said GPs are feeling “frustrated, angry and upset” and claimed the contract will see clinics get a “reference practice contract funding increase of 1.9 per cent well below the inflation”.

This means that “many clinics will struggle to remain financially viable over the next six to 12 months and will be at risk of closing,” he added.

The Mail reported earlier this year that the BMA had set out a rough timetable for possible industrial action by GPs this winter, which could coincide with the general election campaign.

A formal vote for industrial action will need to be held before a strike or non-strike action can take place.

Collective action could include closing the practice roster to new patients or working to govern.

A government source said: “We have imposed the contract, so it is not really the subject of further debate.”

“The new contract reduces bureaucracy and further pay increases are likely to occur as a result of the independent remuneration review process.”

Around 2,400 more GPs have joined the union since the beginning of February, 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 signals the start of our fight and we will bring our patients with us.”

‘GP teams in England have almost 1.4 million patient contacts a day.

“It’s a lot of conversations, and we all want the same thing: access to continuity of care with your family doctor in a local GP practice that has the right balance of GPs, nurses and other staff, and that has the right resources to meet your needs today, tomorrow and in the months and years to come.

“It’s what patients want and what GPs want too.”

He added: “GPC England meets today to consider the profession’s next steps, in a move emboldened by 2,400 newly registered BMA GP members.”

The vote result came as NHS England issued new guidance stating that GPs are “not substitutes” for GPs and must be supervised.

A new letter to all GP practices, primary care network clinical directors, integrated care board chief executives and NHS England regional directors said PAs are “specifically trained to work collaboratively with GPs and other persons” and that all work performed by APs “must be monitored and reported.” with your supervising GP’.

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

The NHS England letter also reminds staff that “personal assistants cannot prescribe” and that each practice should have a comprehensive policy on access to and restrictions on electronic patient records.

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In a section titled “role clarity,” the letter said there is a need to ensure patients understand who is caring for them.

“All clinical and administrative staff (for example, receptionists) should be trained in the personal assistant role and make it clear to patients that they are caring for a personal assistant,” he added.

PAs are graduates (usually with a health or life sciences degree) who have completed two years of postgraduate training, 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 by a personal assistant on two occasions when she visited her local GP in Crouch End, north London.

I was under the impression that I was seeing a GP when I had been seeing a personal assistant after being seen 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 voted against the contract.

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