Please note: this article originally said: ‘Pulse understands this motion was specially added following Pulse’s breaking news story’. The BMA has informed us that ‘the meeting agenda always included a Committee vote on a motion which encapsulated the decisions taken within the meeting, this was in no way influenced by the inappropriate leak to Pulse’. We are happy to correct this matter
Exclusive: The BMA’s GP Committee has voted against organising industrial action over this year’s GP contract, which was imposed by NHS England.
Pulse understands that the committee, which met today for an emergency meeting, will instead hold off while it sees how recently-launched negotiations over a new five-year deal turn out.
GPC members were asked if they wanted to take action on a timeline of either the 2023/24 imposition, or based on the 2024 onwards contract negotiations. Over half (58%) voted in favour of the second option but only 42% backed imminent industrial action.
These motions were not mentioned in a press release later sent by the BMA.
This instead focused on a motion, supported by 98% of committee members, calling on the Government to ‘agree a contract with GPC England which recognises and funds the increased workload carried out by general practices, and enables practices to provide safe patient care with freedom and trust.’
‘If the Government fails to do this, then this committee will ballot GPs working in England on industrial action,’ the motion added.
The union was considering next steps after NHS England’s contract imposition and last month the GPCE had warned that GPs were ‘ready to act’ if ‘positive changes’ are not seen.
At the time, GPCE officials including acting chair Dr Kieran Sharrock and deputy chair Dr David Wrigley said that the potential options for industrial action included full practice closures for a day, closure of patient lists and submitting undated contract resignations.
Last month, the union gave the Government a list of changes that must be made – ‘at a minimum’ – to the imposed 2023/24 contract to avoid a threat of industrial action by GPs.
The BMA had also said that balloting and subsequent action were ‘tools to bring about collective success.’
They stressed timing was important for ‘maximum impact’ and that action was being considered in relation to both this year’s and next year’s contracts.
Following today’s meeting, Dr Sharrock said: ‘Today’s vote is an opportunity for the Government to put right this disastrous contract and to secure the future of patient safety.
‘No GP wants to have to consider taking industrial action – and it’s something we still hope to avoid – but the committee has been flatly ignored each time we’ve explained why this contract isn’t workable and needs to be urgently renegotiated.
‘General practice is under unprecedented pressure, and these contract changes will only make things worse by taking GPs away from their patients when they need us the most. This is a time to support the health service, not wave through policies that only pummel us further into the ground.’
At least that negates an ineffectual non event!
Wait for the next five year plan….far better, work on a Plan B!
Sacrilege I know!!
Time to go if you can under a year Whoopee.Then work to rule for me.
wow. just wow. I’m shocked that the BMA have taken this line. Just as much as I am shocked that bears do indeed poo in the woods. who would have though. There was a reason I am not a member of the BMA…. I wonder why ??
Glad I dont pay either!
No surprise.there. I said a while ago gps will not go on strike and if they closed surgery for couple of days, it will not affect patient care too much.
Very timid
The train drivers show what can be done if you flex your muscles
Not even an abatement to QOF this year
Hopeless
Maybe time for a vote of confidence , but they should at least ballot their members to gauge option
Totally un democratic not to do so
I would accept any result of a ballot of members but not this
GPonline says the opposite- Which of these is correct?
https://www.gponline.com/bma-will-ballot-gps-industrial-action-unless-imposed-contract-reversed/article/1821160
Now even the GPs may strike!
https://mol.im/a/12021557
If GP is right sounds much better !
BMA email states the opposite:
GPs vote to take industrial action if ‘disastrous’ contract changes are not renegotiated
GPC England held an emergency meeting today, where the committee voted to ballot GPs working in England for industrial action if disastrous changes to the GP contract, which could threaten patient safety, are not renegotiated in the coming months.
“Pulse understands this motion was specially added following Pulse’s breaking news story.”
No, no it wasn’t, I saw the motion a week ago and it was presented as the exec planned it, over a week ago, Pulse need to ask themselves if they and whoever leaks to them are supporting or undermining General Practice, and what value they add by behaving in this fashion. DOI Speaker at GPC.
Hi Adrian and Born Jovial,
The GPC actively voted against concrete plans for balloting on industrial action. We found this out and sent out this breaking news.
The GPC realised how bad this looked. They voted on the watered down version that we have included above. This motion doesn’t say anything. It is another wait and see motion, similar to many they have voted through in the past.
We stand by the story here – they are not balloting and have no real plans to do so.
Jaimie (Pulse editor)
GPC must be hoping government smiles on the only nhs group apart consultants not to undertake or threaten industrial action (yet) !
The BMA are utterly toothless. Look to New Zealand if you want to see how effective industrial action can be in the face of a poor supply of workers. Now is not the time to shy away from difficult issues. Medics in the UK are in a unique bargaining position and are rightly highlighting patient safety and low staff numbers.
This would be laughable if only it wasn’t so pathetic. Has anyone any confidence in the GPC? I certainly don’t.
The government asking the GPC if they want a chaperone whilst they administer a f**k you enema
Great article Jamie, thanks.
I can understand the BMA keeping their powder dry for the big one next year. I am however worried about next years timescale as clearly we will not be presented with a contract that achieves what is the fundamental problem of workload control. We therefore need the contract to be given to us with enough time for it to be voted on, rejected and industrial action taken with enough time for it to work. There must also be time to present the option B of a contract designed by us.
We shouldn’t have to have emergency meetings next year as it is clear what is coming.
What date is expected for a working GP to be able to scrutinise the contract?
Hi Jaimie. I think your sources were either not paying attention or were inexperienced GPC member(s), as what you quote happened is inaccurate (which is very unlike your magazine) – I attended the whole meeting in person. The prevailing view throughout the day was that the profession must go to a ballot over industrial action.
For obvious reasons, the details cannot be aired on a public forum, but the discussion was about the timing to have the greatest impact, clarifying what the profession need to achieve, the practicalities of ensuring any ballot is lawful, and what industrial action will look like.
Cancelling subscription
What use are you then ?
Any ‘plan B’ options discussed?