Hundreds of GPs write to Streeting demanding ‘mutual respect’ amid contract negotiations row

Hundreds of grassroots GPs have signed letters to health secretary Wes Streeting defending the BMA’s role in contract negotiations and demanding ‘mutual respect’.

Over 600 GPs signed a letter written by Hertfordshire GP partner Dr Timothy Strowger, arguing that despite a breakdown in relationship between the BMA’s GP committee and the Government, grassroots GPs are ‘prepared to move forwards on the basis of mutual respect’.

The letter, which was a response to Mr Streeting writing to the profession last week, also defended the GPC executive as they are ‘simply communicating the nature, extent and depth of feeling that currently exists countrywide’.

It comes after Pulse revealed that distrust was the Government’s reason for overhauling the GP contract process from a negotiation with the GPC to a consultation where the BMA is just one of the stakeholders.

The letter said: ‘Pretending that adequate consultation has happened and using this as a basis to impose is not constructive and is inevitably going to lead to resentment, bad feeling and breakdown of what once were healthy, productive and equal relations.

‘The profession fully accepts respect as essential but is equally keen to point out that this respect has to be mutual and works both ways.

‘As you say, despite some challenging and disappointing aspects to consultation over the last year, the GP workforce in this country is also prepared to move forwards with the Government on the basis of mutual respect with extremely valid concerns being listened to, heard and discussed fully.’

In his letter last week, Mr Streeting explained his side of the breakdown in relationship with the GPC and said that his attempts at a ‘constructive relationship’ have failed due to a lack of ‘mutual respect and professionalism’.

The health secretary’s letter also prompted a response from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) LMC, signed by 390 GPs and members of staff, which said that local practices are ‘disappointed’ at the Government’s decision to dilute the BMA’s role in GP contract negotiations for next year.

‘Without an agreement with GPs this will equate to a yearly imposition, and the risk of unintended consequences including reduction in patient safety will be high,’ their letter said.

The LLR GPs also said they were ‘disappointed’ by ‘some of the rhetoric’ from Mr Streeting.

They added: ‘It was inappropriate and demoralising to call general practices, who have always been in the vanguard of IT developments “laggards” and needing to join the 21st century when the concerns raised were about patient safety which has subsequently been shown to be true.

‘The reference to GP pay was also inappropriate, as the figure you quoted was not for income earned by working as a doctor in a GP surgery, and also that the call for more funding is not for increased GP pay but so that we can provide the level and quality of service that our patients need.

‘The overall effect felt in general practice at present is uncertainty and reduced morale, particularly from GP partners who have invested significant time and resources in developing GP services tailored to their patients.’

Pulse has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care for comment.

Pulse has recently looked into the reasons and timeline of the breakdown in relationship between the BMA and the Government.