BMA goes ahead with GP collective action escalation ‘putting care ahead of cost savings’

New GP collective action organised by the BMA will ‘put patient care ahead of cost savings’, the union has said, as GPs have now been asked to switch off non-contractual prescribing software.

The BMA’s GP committee has confirmed that it is going ahead with collective action escalation initially announced last week, in protest at this year’s imposed GP contract.

GP practices across England have been asked to begin the next phase of collective action by removing or ignoring any non-contractual medicines optimisation software for new prescriptions.  

Medicines optimisation software is often embedded in clinical systems by ICBs for the purpose of system financial savings, and provides prompts, alerts, or recommendations at the point of prescribing.

The new action means that patients will see ‘minimal impact’, but will receive the prescription ‘appropriate for the clinical presentation’, the union said.

The BMA said: ‘Medicines optimisation software is often built into GP IT systems by commissioners to cut costs, reduce waste and limit unnecessary prescribing.

‘The NHS currently asks GPs to use this software, which recommends cheaper medicines at the point of prescribing, even when they may not be in a patient’s best interests. Asking GPs to remove or ignore this function puts patient care ahead of cost savings.

‘These tools are also commonly linked to ICB or local formulary policies, which are often written with cost and ICB prescribing budgets in mind.

‘Alongside action around this software, we are asking practice to make acute prescribing choices in the best interests of their patients, rather than in line with any local ICB formulary.’

As revealed by Pulse, GP collective action in 2024 had already included switching off medicines optimisation software, with some ICBs estimating at the time that this specific action would cause ‘significant’ financial risks to prescribing savings.

GPC chair Dr Katie Bramall said that the action will be ‘expensive’ for ICBs but it will give GPs ‘the freedom to give patients what they deem clinically appropriate’ with no cost to the practice.

She said: ‘Medicines optimisation software can be a nuisance for GPs. Its recommendations are not always in patients’ best interests and can instead reflect commissioners’ prescribing budgets.

‘While this will be expensive for ICBs it will give GPs the freedom to give patients what they deem clinically appropriate with no cost to the practice.

‘GPs want to serve their communities, protect practices and provide patients with the care they deserve.

‘They cannot do that if the systems meant to support them instead make that job more difficult. We want the Government to deliver for the profession and work with us on a solution that protects practices and supports patient care but the current situation is unsustainable and that is why collective action is in place.’

As part of collective action which started at the beginning of this month, GPs were already told to notify their ICB that they are stopping voluntarily sharing data using a template letter provided by the union’s GP committee.

Last month, the committee said it would announce new actions to escalate the dispute each month, should the Government fail to provide ‘sufficient concessions’ on the imposed contract.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told Pulse: ‘There have been constructive discussions with the BMA’s GPCE in recent weeks, and progress has been made. GPs play a pivotal role in the NHS, and we remain committed to working with the BMA to resolve outstanding issues and avoid escalation.

‘We expect all providers of NHS care to act in the best interests of patients, make responsible use of public funds, and work in line with established clinical guidance and local prescribing arrangements.  There will be no impact on patient services, and patients should continue to contact their GP as usual.’