Grassroots GPs across England will be surveyed annually by the BMA to help shape future contract negotiations, its GP committee has announced.
GPC England said the survey, which will be launched by the end of the month, will be an opportunity for GPs to place their voices ‘at the heart of their future’.
GPCE chair Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer said that the views shared in the survey will be published next spring in time to influence party manifestos and make protecting general practice a key ’doorstep conversation’ on the election campaign trails.
She said: ‘This survey is to be of all GPs, not just BMA members. Our aspiration is that we survey annually each summer, in time for feedback to be ready ahead of the annual contract negotiation round.
‘Our vision needs to be rooted in common ground with our patients, and common sense with our commissioners. It will be framed ‘before’ and ‘after’ the 2024 general election.
‘NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have already committed to very little change for the 2024/25 contract, but the financial envelope to fund practices has not expanded for five years despite population, demand and inflationary rises.
‘We need to push for the greatest flexibility, lowest bureaucracy and highest trust to best guarantee practice sustainability.
‘Once we have fed in your opinion as GPs on the ground across the country, we will be sharing our thoughts with stakeholders of influence.
‘This includes colleagues at the RCGP and RCN; think tanks; and most importantly of all, patient groups before publishing next spring in time to influence party manifestos and make protecting general practice a key ’doorstep conversation’ on the election campaign trails.
‘Look out for the survey towards the end of the month – this is your opportunity to place your voice at the heart of your future.’
England LMCs will meet in London on 23-24 November to debate key future policy for the profession, including voting on a motion calling for the end to local enhanced services (LESs) and on separating acute on-the-day care from planned GP care.
Last month, a report concluded that the Government’s argument that GPs must to stick to the five-year contract has been ‘short-sighted’ in the face of ‘obvious budgetary pressures’.
The current five-year GP contract will come to an end in March, meaning the GPC will negotiate with the Government for a new contract which could include more extensive reforms than recent years.
However, NHS England’s primary care director told Pulse in August that they are ‘not in a position’ to negotiate a new five-year deal due to a lack of funding commitment, and the 2024/25 contract will be a ‘stepping stone’.
