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GPs have today voted overwhelmingly take unprecedented industrial action that could see appointments slashed by up to a third.
More than 8,500 family doctors in England took part in the ballot, with 98.3 per cent backing the disruption.
It means from today, the British Medical Association is urging GPs to choose from a list of ten actions, and practices can choose to implement as few or as many as they want.
Patient groups have already described the move as ‘selfish’, warning GPs risk harming those in need of care – and losing the public’s support.
One NHS chief even said the effect of a cap on the number of appointments could be ‘catastrophic’.
More than 8,500 family doctors in England took part in the ballot, with 98.3 per cent backing the disruption. It means from today, the British Medical Association is urging GPs to choose from a list of ten actions, and practices can choose to implement as few or as many as they want
Patient groups have already described the move as ‘selfish’, warning GPs risk harming those in need of care – and losing the public’s support. One NHS chief even said the effect of a cap on the number of appointments could be ‘catastrophic’. Pictured, Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chairman of the BMA’s GP committee
The ten forms of protest, include one which would put a cap on the number of daily ‘patient contacts’.
This includes face-to-face appointments, remote consultations and online messages.
Under recommendations implemented by the BMA and European Union of General Practitioners, GPs should not deliver more than 25 appointments a day to ensure ‘safe care’.
But some doctors are reportedly having to cram in nearly 90 patients a day in some areas amid an appointments crisis. The average stands around 37.
Patients over the cap would be diverted to ‘local urgent care settings’ such as 111 or walk-in clinics when the total is hit.
As many as 3million GP appointments a month could disappear if family doctors push ahead with the plans, according to estimates by primary care leaders.
Other measures include refusing to co-operate with standard NHS systems, such as those used to refer patients to hospital specialists or to share data with local health planners.
Earlier this week, Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chairman of the BMA’s GP committee said the action aimed to ‘bring the NHS to a standstill very quickly’.
However, she insisted: ‘It is industrial action, but the target isn’t patients. The target is NHS England [and the] Department of Health.’
Responding to the ballot result today, she added: ‘We have no choice but to move ahead with collective action to protect our practices, and our patients.
‘This will not be a “big bang”. It will be a slow burn. It’s likely that impact may not be felt for some time.
‘We hope this will give the new Government time to consider our proposed solutions including fixing our contract once and for all.
‘General practice should be the front door of the NHS, not the doormat.
‘We don’t want to have to take this next step but must if we’re to stop our services from collapsing completely.
‘A key Labour manifesto promise was to bring back the family doctor, and we look forward to making sure that can become a reality as soon as possible.’
But BMA leaders have said that the measures would remain in place until ministers agree to a new GP contract.