GPs’ plan to introduce a patient cap as part of collective action that could have a ‘catastrophic’ effect on the NHS, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation warned The Guardian last week.
The ballot result, out today, revealed that 98% of over 8,500 GP partners and contractors who voted felt that the profession should undertake collective action over poor contract funding.
During the ballot, the BMA published nine proposals for actions that GPs could take, including:
- Limit patient contacts to 25 a day per GP.
- Pause e-Referral Advice & Guidance and voluntary services.
- Stop rationing referrals, investigations and admissions.
- Switch off Medicines Optimisation.
- Stop sharing call volume data with NHS England.
- Switch off GPConnect Update Record.
- Freeze new data sharing agreements or withdraw permissions for data sharing for secondary purposes.
Last week NHS England warned ICBs that they should prepare for collective action from the day of the result onwards.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “This is an overwhelming show of support for the BMA’s call for collective action, although it still remains to be seen how it will be implemented at practice level.
“But even if only a few practices in an area do take action, urgent treatment centres and A&E departments will quickly reach capacity and be calling out for extra cover.
“In any case, our advice is to check with the practice to see what decision they’ve made in terms of collective action to ensure you are able to fulfil your agreement with them.”
