GPs are threatening unprecedented industrial action by slashing the number of appointments by a third, potentially affecting up to 3 million appointments a month.
The British Medical Association is urging family doctors to back the disruption in a ballot that closes soon, with fears that the action could have a catastrophic effect on the healthcare system.
GP partners, who earn an average of £153,400 a year, are protesting against a new NHS contract they believe will make surgeries financially unviable.
The action, if supported, would involve up to nine forms of protest, including a cap on daily patient contacts and a refusal to cooperate with data sharing arrangements.
The NHS is preparing for a worst-case scenario where the industrial action could impact the entire healthcare system, including A&E services, with tensions already rising due to GPs pulling back from discretionary work.
GPs in the UK are considering unprecedented industrial action that could potentially bring the NHS to a standstill, with threats to cut the number of appointments by a third. The British Medical Association is urging family doctors to support the disruption in a ballot that closes today. Patient groups have criticized the move as ‘selfish’ and warned that it could harm those in need of care. If all family doctors adhere to the BMA’s demands, it is estimated that as many as 3 million GP appointments a month could be affected.
The action, if implemented, could start as early as this Thursday and last for months, impacting NHS services across the board. Concerns have been raised about the potential consequences of such a move, with fears that patients may be forced to overload A&E departments. Despite claims of financial squeezing, GP partners earn an average of £153,400 per year, sparking backlash from patient advocacy groups and the public. Negotiations between the BMA and government officials are ongoing, with hopes of resolving the issues through dialogue rather than disruptive action.
