Today marks the beginning of an unprecedented move by GPs in England, who have voted to take industrial action that could significantly reduce the number of daily patient appointments.
In a recent ballot organized by the British Medical Association (BMA), over 8,500 family doctors participated, with an overwhelming 98.3% supporting the action. This means GPs can choose from a list of 10 different industrial actions, including capping the number of appointments they handle each day.
Patient groups have expressed concern, calling the move “selfish” and warning that it could jeopardize patient care and erode public support. An NHS chief described the potential impact of limiting appointments as “catastrophic.” Despite this, the health service has urged the public to continue seeking GP care as usual, reassuring that practices will remain open.
One of the key actions being considered is a cap on the number of daily ‘patient contacts,’ which includes face-to-face appointments, remote consultations, and online messages.
The BMA and the European Union of General Practitioners recommend that GPs see no more than 25 patients a day to ensure safe care. However, some doctors are reportedly seeing nearly 90 patients a day in certain areas, with the average standing around 37.
Patients who cannot be seen due to the cap will be directed to alternative urgent care settings like 111 or walk-in clinics.
According to NHS England data for June, there were 28.5 million GP appointments, with 90.2% attendance. About 44.6% of these appointments were with a GP, while 19.6% were with a nurse.
The majority of appointments (64.8%) were face-to-face, and 25.6% were conducted over the phone. The data also showed that 44% of appointments were on the same day, with a quarter of patients waiting up to a week.
Primary care leaders estimate that up to 3 million GP appointments could be lost each month if the planned actions go ahead.
Other possible measures include refusing to cooperate with standard NHS systems, such as those used for referring patients to specialists or sharing data with local health planners.
Despite these disruptions, practices are still required to be open from 08:00 to 18:30, Monday to Friday.
Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, chairman of the BMA’s GP committee, stated that the action aims to put pressure on NHS England and the Department of Health rather than targeting patients.
She emphasized that the measures are necessary to protect GP practices and ensure patient care does not collapse completely. Dr. Bramall-Stainer also expressed hope that the new government will address the issues faced by GPs, including inadequate contracts and funding.
Government Response
The government has responded by adding GPs to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), aiming to hire 1,000 more doctors this year. The scheme, introduced in 2019, allows primary care networks to employ other roles such as podiatrists and occupational therapists, with the government reimbursing their salaries.
Additionally, the health secretary has added £82 million to the £1.4 billion ARRS fund as an emergency measure to support newly qualified GPs facing potential unemployment.
Looking Forward
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges within the NHS and the critical role of GPs. While the industrial action aims to address these challenges, the full impact may not be immediately felt.
The BMA and the government continue to seek solutions to improve the conditions and support for GPs, with the ultimate goal of enhancing patient care.
TDPel Media
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