First industrial action by GPs in 60 years would bring NHS to a standstill, top doc warns

THE first industrial action by GPs in 60 years would bring the NHS to a standstill, a top doc has warned.

Family doctors across England are being balloted amid a row over the new contract for GP services in England.

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It could mean GPs limit the number of patients seen per day to 25 and they could stop performing work they are not ­formally contracted to do.

Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA GPs committee, said: “We’re not going on strike. It’s industrial action, but the target isn’t patients.

“The target is NHS England and the Department of Health. It will bring the NHS to a standstill quickly.

“But not for patients, (for) all the NHS admin, the policymakers who have put in place decisions that aren’t helping patients.”

The ballot closes today and action, the first since 1964, would start on August 1 and could last “months”.

The BMA says the new contract — a 1.9 per cent funding rise for 2024/25 — means surgeries will struggle to stay afloat.

Dr Bramall-Stainer met with Health Secretary Wes Streeting on July 18 and union leaders hope such talks will continue.

Earlier this month she set out a number of asks of the Government, including the new Family Doctor Charter; a “minimum investment standard” for general practice; an ask to build “real-terms re-investment into general practice; and a call for “GP-to-patient list size ratios”.

Mr Streeting’s first official visit in his new role was to a London GP surgery on July 8, where he pledged to “bring back the family doctor” and “fix the front door to the NHS”.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The Health and Social Care Secretary has met with the chair of the BMA’s GP committee to discuss their priorities ahead of their ballot closing on July 29.

“However, it is important we plan for all contingencies, in every eventuality, to keep patients safe”.