Collective action could become norm, warns head of England’s GPs

The collective action being undertaken by general practices could be maintained in the long term to protect services and staff, the head of England’s GPs has told The BMJ.Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA’s General Practitioners Committee for England, emphasised that the collective action voted for by GP partners last week could be undertaken at any time and “doesn’t need permission,” because GPs are simply working to their contracts instead of going above and beyond.1“If practices find that, when they undertake various actions, that works out better for them and they’re able to devote more time to their patients, then there’s no reason for them to stop,” she said.The menu of actions, which include limiting daily patient contacts per GP to the recommended safe maximum of 25 and stopping rationing referrals, investigations, and admissions,2 has been produced with the aid of the BMA’s safe working guidance. It is designed not…
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