The BMA’s GP Committee England is planning to ask all ICBs to record GP industrial action on their risk registers, Pulse understands.
Following a decisive referendum result, which saw 99% of GPs vote down the Government’s imposed contract, the committee discussed next steps at a meeting on Thursday.
While no exact date has been set for a formal ballot, last month the GPC revealed its plans to open a ballot for GPs ‘by early September’ with a view to starting industrial action in November.
And on Thursday, in response to the referendum result, GPCE chair Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer said that even though it was not a ballot, it was a ‘practice run for what’s coming next’.
‘But had it been a ballot it would have easily passed the thresholds,’ she told GPs in a video on X.
The committee is now working on a manifesto for general practice, due to be published next month, as well as ‘roadshows’ which will take place in 10 England regions in June.
Ahead of any ballot, the GPC will look to engage with grassroots GPs to hear what they want out of a future contract and what action they may be willing to take.
The committee is also aiming to write letters to all ICBs to discuss adding GP industrial action to their risk registers.
At her Pulse Live keynote speech last week, Dr Bramall-Stainer said: ‘Every single ICB now needs to put GP industrial action right at the top of their risk registers.’
This month, GPs can also expect to receive guidance from the committee on the details of the imposed contract for 2024/25.
On Thursday, the Government published its official GP contract documents which revealed that the global sum has increased from £104.73 to £107.57.
The total funding increase for GP practices is 2%, despite the GPC having asked the Government and NHS England for a 8.7% core contract uplift.
Dr Paul Evans, GPC member for Gateshead and other areas in the North East, told Pulse that after the referendum result he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ but ‘with the caveat there’s an awful lot of work still to be done’.
On next steps for the committee, he said: ‘I think a lot more talking to our constituents about what they want out of and what they would regard as a fair contract that enables them to continue delivering their service – doctor-led cradle to grave service – and what they need for that. And talking to them about what they’re prepared to do in order to get that.’
Dr Evans added: ‘And then of course, as well as all the talking, ultimately, this will potentially lead us towards balloting for industrial action of some form or other potentially – the march towards that has begun.’
However, he said timelines could quickly shift if the Government and NHS England decided, given the referendum result, it is time ‘to sit down and have serious talks with the profession’.
At the Pulse Live conference last week, Dr Bramall-Stainer said GPs need a ‘new contract’ after years of being ‘bullied and gaslit’.
Last month, she revealed that any GP industrial action is unlikely to involve practices ‘shutting their doors’ to patients, with the GPCE considering options that would affect GP interface with other NHS services.
READERS' COMMENTS [4]
Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles
What about the Minimal Service Levels Agreements that impose a duty to be in work?
Regarding industrial action, this is exactly the sort of decisive leadership we want from the GPC….NHSE must be shaking in their boots..
The government will be laughing. The prospect of. potential industrial action.in November…….probably after the general election.
Come on GPC, get moving! What kind of results have you got from talks with the government in previous years?
WHY NOVEMBER ! WHY NOT NOW ! EVERY DAY OUR PATIENTS HARMED BY THIS VENAL GOVERNMENT’S PRIMARY CARE POLICY. AND YES I’M SHOUTING. ARE YOU LISTENING GPC????