BMA to ballot GPs on collectively closing lists
GPs will be balloted on whether to close their lists to new NHS patients en masse after a major vote at the LMCs conference.
The motion, passed narrowly, said the GP Forward View is ‘failing to deliver the resources necessary’ and ‘demands that GPC ballot GPs as to whether they would be prepared to collectively close their lists in response to this crisis’.
It comes after the conference in May last year called on the BMA to ballot GPs on various forms of industrial action - including list closure - if NHS England failed to provide adequate support.
However, they decided against balloting the profession after claiming that NHS England agreed to consider various measures demanded by the BMA. It also took legal advice that many forms of industrial action would constitute a breach of contract.
But the latest motion compels the GPC to ballot GPs on collectively closing their lists - and importantly, unlike last year, there are no caveats to this motion, meaning the GPC will have to take action or go against the will of local leaders.
Dr Jackie Applebee, from Tower Hamlets LMC, proposing the motion, said: ‘If we do nothing we will collapse and there will be no access for anyone.’
GPC executive member Dr Mark Sandford Wood warned that the BMA ‘asked a similar question in a survey of the profession and 34% said they would support them’.
He added that the BMA took legal advice that suggested such action would ‘likely be a breach of contract’.
‘The BMA could be found to be inducing it. There are risks to this,’ he said.
But Dr Applebee replied: ‘How can we carry on as we are? If not now, then when?’
The idea of a mass closing of lists was first suggested by Pulse editor Nigel Praities.
Motion in full
That conference believes that the GP Forward View is failing to deliver the resources necessary to sustain general practice and demands that GPC ballot GPs as to whether they would be prepared to collectively close their lists in response to this crisis.
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Readers' comments (19)
Grinding Premolars | GP Partner/Principal19 May 2017 4:45pm
Long, long, long overdue. Perhaps even too late.
But better to die on your feet than live on your knees.
My ballot paper cannot come soon enough.
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Turn out the lights | GP Partner/Principal19 May 2017 4:52pm
About time to fight back against the onlsaught
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Stelvio | Locum GP19 May 2017 4:55pm
Just what GPs need, yet another BMA survey.
Dear BMA, please start planning now, today, how GPs can leave the sinking ship that is the NHS and earn a living from providing medical services to patients.
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medicine tastes awful | GP Partner/Principal19 May 2017 4:56pm
Sorry Mr Hunt when you move to my area - my list is closed.
You will have no GP - ha ha ha
you can see me privately !!!
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E London Locum GP | Locum GP19 May 2017 4:59pm
About time!
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5 sessions is the new 10 | GP Partner/Principal19 May 2017 7:01pm
We have found increasing our list mitigates against the fixed regulatory and reporting costs.
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7dayworker | GP Partner/Principal19 May 2017 8:12pm
Our list has a 15% reduction for this age adjusted thing . Then we have cuts in PMS and our well paid CCG and highly paid LMC have said ..bad luck , that is it.
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Vinci Ho | GP Partner/Principal19 May 2017 8:27pm
I think there is a place of selling this to the public :We are prepared to 'break the law' to protect safe care of our patients, given this lying government and its propaganda media are destroying us with their way of funding general practice and NHS.
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Abhijit Ganguly | Locum GP19 May 2017 8:51pm
"But the latest motion compels the GPC to ballot GPs on collectively closing their lists - and importantly, unlike last year, there are no caveats to this motion, meaning GPC will have to take action or go against the will of local leaders. "
When push comes to shove the GPC will go against the will of local leaders!!!!
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Almost Retired | GP Partner/Principal20 May 2017 6:56am
Not sure if this would make much diference. Patients would simply be allocated if they live in the area.
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