GPs across England have roundly rejected contract changes set to be imposed from next month, with the BMA calling on the Government to return to negotiations.
More than 16,000 GPs and GP registrars voted to oppose the planned changes to the general medical services and personal medical services GP practice contracts for 2026-27, following the outcome of a referendum released on 26 March.
The referendum, which was launched last month following the abrupt release of contract reform proposals by the Government, saw 98.9 per cent of those participating vote against the changes, with the vote having a turnout of 55 per cent.
While urging the Government to return to negotiations, GPs have warned they are prepared to escalate to direct action if a way forward cannot be found.
BMA GPs committee England chair Katie Bramall said the outcome ‘spoke for itself’ and urged the Government to work with her committee to develop a new set of contract terms.
She said: ‘This is an unequivocal rejection from GPs across England. The Government cannot ignore the strength of feeling from a profession that is already at breaking point.
BRAMALL: Profession at breaking point
‘When the Government promised a “shift from hospital to the community” we did not think this would be their own waiting lists. These proposals heap unsafe, unfunded additional workload on to practices, forcing GPs to deliver more with less, putting patient care at risk.’
She added: ‘GPs simply want to provide the safe care their patients need, but they know they are being set up to fail with this imposed contract, the referendum result speaks for itself.’
Under the terms of the contract, which is set to be imposed from 1 April, the BMA has warned that GPs would effectively be required to do ‘more with less’ by having to provide a range of enhanced services.
These include ensuring unlimited same-day access for patients with urgent clinical needs, and an end to the capping of consultation requests that must be responded to even when working at full capacity.
Other changes included in the Government’s proposals opposed by the BMA are plans to make the use of advice and guidance services contractual and implementing steps to ensure patients have timely access to online and video consultation data.
Offensive offer
The association has warned that, in their current form, the contract changes will place further pressure on to general practice services at a time when more than 6,000 GP partners have given up their long-term community GP partnership since 2015.
The vote to reject the contract terms comes just a day after the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration announced a proposed pay award of just 3.5 per cent for all doctors, a figure condemned as a ‘crushing blow’ to the medical profession by the BMA.
In response to the outcome, members of GPC England met last week to consider next steps. Off the back of a meeting he had had with the GPC England chair the previous week, health secretary Wes Streeting had written to the committee early that same morning indicating a willingness to return to negotiations.
For its part, GPC England has said it is prepared to resume discussions provided contractual proposals around changes to advice and guidance services and unlimited same-day urgent care are paused.
The BMA has set a deadline of 30 April for these conditions to be met, with GPC England reserving the right to escalate to collective action beyond this date.