GPs in England reject Government contract

GPs in England are set to consider next steps after an “overwhelming” majority voted to reject Government changes to their contract. The British Medical Association (BMA) said that family doctors feel “frustrated, angry and upset” at planned changes to the 2024/25 contract for GP services. More than 19,000 GPs and GP registrars took part in the BMA’s referendum, with 99% voting “no” when asked if they accept the new contract for the service. Earlier this year it was reported that the BMA had set out an approximate timeline for potential GP industrial action this winter. The BMA has said previously that the contract, set to come into force on April 1, would see practices given a “well below-inflation 1.9% baseline practice contract funding uplift”. The doctors’ union has now warned that imposition of the contract would put practices at risk of closure as “many will struggle to stay financially viable”. The BMA said 2,400 more GPs have joined the union since the beginning of February. Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee for England, said: “The unanimity of the vote in our referendum demonstrates the depth of feeling among the profession. “In 20 years, I’ve never known...

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