Over 40% of GP practices are now limiting appointments as part of collective action, Pulse estimates.
The majority of practices in England (70%) are now taking some form of collective action, Pulse estimates, including:
- Limiting patient contacts to 25 a day.
- Stopping any rationing of referrals, investigations and admissions.
- Offering voluntary services to plug local commissioning gaps.
Findings comes from a survey carried out by Pulse and sister title Management in Practice, which received responses from 660 different GP practices (about one in 10 in England).
In its advice to GP locums, the BMA recommended to members that: “Before the start of any engagement during the period of action, locum GPs should discuss with the practice what, if any, action they are taking and the expectations of the practice for the anticipated duration of collective action.”
It also warned salaried GPs not to take part in collective action unless their practice or partner had made the decision to do so: “GP partners and contractors can direct their staff to work in certain ways in order to take part in collective action. However, if a salaried GP takes part in collective action and this is not at the instruction of the contractor or partner they work for, they could breach their employment contract and face disciplinary action or dismissal.”
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “For years, GPs across the country have been working longer hours than contracted, seeing more patients than is often safe, and bending to bureaucracy in order to accommodate overstretched hospitals’ attempts to improve efficiency.
“All of this has been down to goodwill, all has been outside of GPs’ contracts, and all without funding. All in the hope that something would change to make this sustainable; the creation of ARRS roles was perhaps that attempt, but that’s arguably made things worse.
“The action being taken – if that’s what we can call it – is simply GPs doing the job they’re contracted to do, with any consequences simply exposing shortfalls in any existing contracts.”