The latest GP contract imposition forms part of an intentional ‘ideological dismantling’ of NHS general practice, the chair of the BMA’s GP Committee for England has said.
The 2024/25 contract, announced yesterday by NHS England and including funding increase just over 2%, renders the GP business model ‘non-viable’, Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer also said.
According to the GP leader, the imposition will lead to ‘reduced patient access’ as well as ‘likely’ practice closures.
She said on X: ‘The GP business model is now non-viable despite accrual of £0 financial deficit (hospitals c£1.5bn).
‘Patients and the public need to wake up and see what this is: an intentional, predetermined, strategic, non-evidence based, ideological dismantling of NHS general practice.’
Earlier this week, she said GPCE had given the Government 48h to improve on their offer but NHS England did not take the opportunity.
And in her post last night, she said: ‘We wanted to meet halfway and agree a package for the sake of GPs, their teams and our patients but the opportunity has been lost.’
Despite the contract being imposed, with NHS England saying it is final and will now be implemented, the GPCE will go ahead with a referendum on the contract changes 7-27 March.
This forms part of preparations for potential industrial action by GPs, which Dr Bramall-Stainer has warned threatens to coincide with general election campaigning.
GP accountants also warned that practices would struggle financially in the coming year.
AISMA board member Andy Pow said that the GP contract imposition was ‘a disappointing announcement’, happening in the third year running when uplifts in the value of the GP contract have been ‘significantly below inflation’.
He said: ‘While the contract is based on an assumption of 2% pay growth for staff, practices face significantly higher wage growth from April as a result of the near 10% increase in the minimum wage. This will also filter through to other pay bands.
‘The contract uplift allows for inflation at 1.68%, yet inflation is running at 4% in the economy. While energy costs may be on a downward trajectory and loan interest costs have hopefully flatlined, these costs remain far higher than they were a couple of years ago and were not funded in contract uplifts in the previous two years.’
I’m not on social media but those who are and care ought to be challenging the labour party on this
for Tory HQ this is the end result of 12 years planning and dissembling weaponised by Covid and the 5 year contract that is now expiring
I am afraid to say GB public are clueless on this
Fuck the Tories. Evil, lying, dissembling, scheming criminal bastards. I hope they rot in hell.
Hear hear Dr No
Some form of IA will lance the boil and get the issues debated on TV and in papers and by the public. The public is always on the side of the NHS – they just haven’t been told what’s happening to primary care.
The last Labour lot left a message “there’s no money left”. Looks like the Tories are paying back with “there’s no public sector left”.
It’s all tribal japes and jinks to both lots.
Take IA and make the last few months miserable for Andrea Flotsam and Bacteria Atkins….
‘ideological dismantling’ – yup. Finally sounds like the profession is finally waking up. Bit late in the day. Maybe too late.
Why is all of this not being talked about in main stream media?
Announce in advance ‘Closure of all practices for all work for 14 days unless contract reopened and a fair deal agreed for the benefit of continuity of the NHS and patients long term’
If done properly the closure will not be needed as renegotiation should work or political suicide to allow it to go ahead if proper media briefing done in advance