NHS GPs to take industrial action for first time in 60 years in bitter row over pay and working conditions

NHS GPs have voted to take industrial action for the first time in decades in a row over pay and working conditions.

Members of the British Medical Association landed 98 per cent in favour of the protest.

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They will not walk out in a full strike but can pick from a list of 10 ways to work less.

BMA leaders said family doctors are “at the end of their tether”.

Forms of industrial action might include capping the number of daily appointments, refusing to do overtime, or refusing to sign sick notes.

GPs say they are not being paid enough and are overworked because there is not enough cash to hire new doctors.

This is an act of desperation – practices are struggling to keep the lights on

Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer British Medical Association

Dozens of practices are closing for good each year as staff burn out.

In a ballot that closed on Monday, 8,518 out of 12,590 BMA members voted and 98.3 per cent voted yes to industrial action.

Doctors said the protest would be a “slow burn” and strain on other parts of the NHS will build up over weeks or months.

It will likely mean patients face longer waits for care.

Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of BMA’s GP committee, 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 and the era of the family doctor has been wiped out by recent Governments and our patients are suffering as a result.

“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.

“General practice should be the front door of the NHS, not the doormat.”

Health secretary pleads ‘don’t punish patients’

GPs have not taken industrial action since 1964.

The result comes after Health Secretary Wes Streeting urged doctors not to punish patients for the state of the NHS.

The BMA threatened at the weekend to “bring the NHS to a standstill” with the protest.

Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Streeting said: “I can understand why GPs wanted to punish the previous government, but taking collective action will only punish patients.

“I’m asking GPs to work with us, so we can rebuild the NHS and deliver the service patients deserve.”

Health chiefs warned patients might suffer delays but they should still contact the doctor if they need help.

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS director for primary care, 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.”

What it means for you

GPs in England have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking unprecedented industrial action, but what does this mean and what are the potential impacts on patients?

More than 8,500 family doctors took part in a ballot by the British Medical Association (BMA), with 98.3 per cent voting in favour of collective action.

– Why are GPs staging industrial action?

The BMA has argued that the new GP contract, which will see services given a 1.9 per cent funding increase for 2024/25, means many surgeries will struggle to stay financially viable.

GPs launched a formal dispute over the issue in April after a referendum carried out by the union found 99 per cent of 19,000 GPs rejected the contract.

The ballot, which closed earlier this week, received votes from more than 8,500 GPs, according to the BMA, with 98.3 per cent voting in favour of collective action.

– When will it begin?

Collective action by GPs in England begins on August 1.

– How long is action expected to last?

It could potentially last for months. Earlier this week, Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chairwoman of the BMA’s England General Practitioners Committee, said that action has been designed to be “easy, sustainable and effective” because it could last “week on week on week, month, on month on month”.

– What action can GPs take during this period?

The BMA is recommending a list of 10 actions to surgeries, with practices able to choose how many they implement.

These include GPs limiting the number of patients seen per day to 25, potentially choosing to stop performing work they are not formally contracted to do, and choosing not to share patient data unless it is in the best interests of the patient.

The BMA also recommends surgeries stop “rationing referrals, investigations, and admissions?” by referring patients for specialist care when clinically appropriate.

– Will I still be able to see my GP?

Yes. GP practices are still required to open from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday during collective action.

NHS England has urged patients to come forward for care as usual.

– How will patients be impacted?

Dr Bramall-Stainer previously said if action is taken effectively “it will bring the NHS to a standstill very quickly – but not for patients (for) all the NHS admin, the policymakers who have put in place these decisions that aren’t helping patients.”

However, experts have warned collective action could impact the public and the wider health service.

NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts, said the action “will hit patients hard as wider NHS services feel the knock-on effects” while think tank The King’s Fund said the action could result in “thousands” of people turning to services like 111, pharmacies and A&E departments.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Health Secretary Wes Streeting also warned collective action “will only punish patients”.

– When was the last time GPs took action?

The last time GPs took “collective action” was in 1964 when family doctors collectively handed in undated resignations to the Wilson government, according to Dr Bramall-Stainer.

This led to reform including the Family Doctor Charter of 1965.

A proportion of GPs staged industrial action in 2012 in protest against increases in pension contributions and a later retirement age for doctors.

Estimates suggest that between a fifth and a third of practises took part in the action.

Dr Bramall-Stainer has previously said she aspires to talk to the current Government about a Family Doctor Charter 2025 – 60 years on from the original.