GPs in Wales have voted overwhelmingly to reject the 24/25 General Medical Services (GMS) contract offered by the Welsh Government last month. The unequivocal result was delivered just weeks after the BMA’s committee of GP representatives in Wales voted to reject the contract.
GPs and GP registrars from across the country took part in BMA Cymru Wales’ online referendum which ran from 25 November to 16 December, with 99% voting ‘reject’ to the question: Do you accept the 2024/25 GMS Contract offer for General Practice from the Welsh Government?*
The referendum saw more GPs in Wales join the BMA than ever before, reflecting the strength of feeling amongst the profession. The offer was deemed derisory after it failed to offer a sustainable future for GP services which see up to 90% of NHS patient contact.
The BMA’s Welsh GP committee, which represents the profession will now take this mandate to the Welsh Government and ask that they urgently improve the terms on offer. If they choose to ignore the unified voice of Welsh GPs, the BMA will continue with preparations for collective action by GPs.
Dr Gareth Oelmann, chair of the BMA’s Welsh GP committee said:
“The profession has delivered a clear message with this result. We simply cannot keep services going and meet the needs of our patients with less money and fewer resources.
“If we accept the offer as it is more practices will undoubtedly close leaving patients in greater peril, that’s why GPs from across Wales have taken a stand.
“For years, the service has been starved of adequate funding which has led to the closure of 100 surgeries since 2012.
“This is having a devastating impact on general practice. A recent survey of our members showed that 91% of GPs are routinely unable to meet patient demand due to unsustainably high workloads.
“With fewer surgeries available, GPs are now seeing up to 35% more patients each, leading GPs to burnout, reduce their hours or leave. This is neither safe nor sustainable.
“That is why we launched our Save Our Surgeries campaign last year which called on the Welsh Government for an urgent rescue package.
“Despite this, the Welsh Government has once again chosen to disregard our major, evidence-based concerns with this derisory offer.
“We know that if general practice had a fairer portion of NHS funding for the wide-ranging portfolio of services we provide, the NHS in Wales would have a far greater chance of success, and most importantly, benefit patients overall.”
Notes to editors
*Results of the referendum are as follows:
|
Do you accept the 2024/25 Welsh GP contract proposal from Welsh Government? |
||
|
|
Number of responses |
Percentage |
|
ACCEPT |
14 |
1.3% |
|
REJECT |
1079 |
98.7% |
|
Turnout |
68% |
|
Background
On Tuesday 5th November this year the BMA’s Welsh GP committee confirmed that it had voted to reject the 24/25 GMS contract offer from the Welsh Government and announced that it would open a referendum to the wider profession to vote to accept or reject the contract offer
The online referendum ran from 25th November – 16th December
In June 2023 BMA Cymru Wales’ GP committee launched the Save Our Surgeries campaign which distilled the crisis facing GPs in Wales and called on the Welsh Government for an urgent rescue package.
The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.