GPs across England have roundly rejected contract changes set to be imposed from next month, with the BMA calling on the Government to return to negotiations.
More than 16,000 GPs and GP registrars voted to oppose the planned changes to the GMS and PMS GP practice contracts for 2026-27, following the outcome of a ballot released today [26 March].
The ballot, which was launched last month following the abrupt release of contract reform proposals by the Government, saw 98.9 per cent of those participating vote against the changes, with the vote having a turnout of 55 per cent.
Under the terms of the contract, which is set to be imposed from 1 April, the BMA has warned that GPs would effectively be required to ‘more with less’ by having to provide a range of enhanced services.
These include ensuring unlimited same-day access for patients with urgent clinical needs, and an end to the capping of consultation requests that must be responded to even when working at full capacity.
BMA GPC chair Katie Bramall said that the outcome of the ballot ‘spoke for itself’ and urged the Government to now work with her committee to jointly develop a new set of contract terms.
She said: ‘This is an unequivocal rejection from GPs across England. The Government cannot ignore the strength of feeling from a profession that is already at breaking point.
‘When the Government promised a “shift from hospital to the community” we did not think this would be their own waiting lists. These proposals heap unsafe, unfunded additional workload on to practices, forcing GPs to deliver more with less, putting patient care at risk.’
She added: ‘GPs simply want to provide the safe care their patients need, but they know they are being set up to fail with this imposed contract, the referendum result speaks for itself.’
Other changes included in the Government’s proposals opposed by the BMA are plans to make the use of advice and guidance services contractual and implementing steps to ensure that patients have timely access to online and video consultation data.
The association has warned that, in their current form, the contract changes will place further pressure on to general practice at a time when the primary care sector has seen more than 6,000 GP partners leave the medical profession since 2015.
The vote to reject the contract terms comes just a day after the doctors’ and dentists’ pay review body (DDRB) announced a proposed pay award of just 3.5 per cent for all doctors, a figure condemned as a ‘crushing blow’ to the medical profession by the BMA.
Members of GPC are holding a meeting today [26 March] to consider next steps.