GPC sets out demands for Government to meet in order to 'stave off' collective action

The leader of English GPs has set out a list of demands for the Government to meet in order to ‘stave off’ collective action.

BMA GP committee England chair Dr Katie Bramall wrote to the health secretary today to ‘re-confirm’ the profession’s expectations ‘for forthcoming negotiations’ for the 2026/27 GMS contract.

It comes as the BMA is currently in formal dispute with the Government over new online consultation requirements which came into force at the beginning of this month, data access and the 10-year plan.

As revealed by Pulse, contingent on internal advice from senior BMA leaders, the GPCE would consider balloting the profession on industrial action as the next step in the dispute – and practices could be urged to actively breach their contracts by switching off online access.

Dr Bramall told the health secretary that GPs ‘were forced to enter into dispute’ but added that there is still time to ‘stave off escalation’.

Her letter sets out nine demands for the Government (see box), which include introducing ‘necessary safeguards’ to prevent erroneous submissions of urgent online consult requests, and increasing the global sum payment per weighted patient by £50 extra per patient per year.

It also said that the Government must also agree to an additional emergency GP practice-level reimbursement scheme to ‘end GP underemployment’ allowing practices to utilise ‘every available GP in England’.

The demands in full

1. To work with DHSC, NHS England and online consult tool providers to embed the necessary safeguards to prevent erroneous submissions of urgent online consult requests.

2. To work with DHSC, NHS England and the JGPITC to ensure that the technical and governance standards are met for GP Connect Update Record (Write Access)

3. To work in good faith with GPC England to deliver a new substantive GMS practice contract within the lifetime of this parliament.

4. As per GPC England’s July resolution, practices need to see the Global Sum payment per weighted patient increased by £50 extra per patient per year.

5. Written confirmation of the funding envelopes for the 2026/27 GMS contract, together with the nominal budgets for the single neighbourhood and multi-neighbourhood provider contracts.

6. Confirmation of a roadmap regarding timelines and nominal budgets for commitment to GMS contract renewal and investment within this parliament.

7. Transfer of the Primary Care Network Directed Enhanced Service ARRS (additional roles reimbursement scheme) monies to practice-level reimbursements where this is requested by the PCN

8. Agreement on an additional emergency GP practice-level reimbursement scheme to end GP underemployment allowing practices to utilise every available GP in England

9. Extension of the Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice to cover liabilities pertaining to data-sharing and information governance for the GP patient record

Source: Dr Bramall’s letter to the health secretary

Dr Bramall said: ‘It is vital that the frustrations being articulated by GPs working so hard to keep their patients safe nationwide are heard – these frustrations have only been amplified following 1 October, and the publication of last Friday’s operational planning guidance for 2026/27, including targets around urgent care.

‘The profession will expect each of the above contingencies to be met in full before we can set aside our dispute.

‘However, there remains a window of opportunity for us to stave off escalation and work constructively together in the weeks ahead.’

Next month GP leaders will vote on whether to use undated contract resignations as part of ‘collective or industrial action’ due to the Government’s delay in negotiating a new substantive GMS contract.

And they will also vote on a motion mandating GPCE to ‘prepare options for action’, including ‘non-compliance with access requirements’.

Dr Bramall has previously told Pulse that by the time of the England LMCs conference in November, she hopes to have ‘greater clarity’ on what the ‘next steps’ are regarding collective action.

Alongside the work towards a potential ballot, the BMA is also still pursuing the potential of a judicial review into the contract changes.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We have always been clear that we wish to work with the BMA to avoid unnecessary and unreasonable collective action – but that needs to be through reasonable co-operation rather than bartering in public.

‘We know the public expect and want to access GP services online, and thankfully many practises are already making sure their digital offer supports that demand. Their BMA representatives should take note.

‘We are reversing more than a decade of neglect in GP practices – backed by £1.1 billion additional investment and recruitment of over 2,500 more GPs. The BMA agreed to implement online requests as part of their contract – and we know that the majority of practices have rolled out this service successfully, and we continue to support others to increase compliance.’