GPs go into contract dispute after rejection Last night, GP leaders declared a formal dispute over this year’s contract settlement following the overwhelming vote of doctors to reject it, warning of the threat of industrial action or other sanctions. The BMA has advised NHS England that local health boards should now add potential GP action…

Right care, first time Practice managers are launching a major campaign to tackle public frustration at the delays in gaining GP appointments. The “Right Care First Time” campaign, launched by the Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM), aims to encourage patients to recognise that they may get the right care by going directly to other…

Satisfaction with general practice at an all-time low Public satisfaction with general practice services has fallen to an all-time low; in fact, it has halved in the last five years, according to a British Social Attitudes survey. Just 34% of people are now satisfied with general practice compared with 64% in 2019. Making practice appointments…

Practices urged to win patient support for funding As an election looms, practices are being encouraged to win patient support for more investment in primary care. The campaign group Rebuild General Practice says a poll of patients shows growing support for primary care, with the majority believing it should be a priority for health spending.…

Imposed contract is a risk to stability Practice managers believe the new contract for GPs poses a risk to the “stability” of general practice, and the IGPM says it’s been inundated with comments from its members. The IGPM says the key problem is the limited uplift in funding at 2%, while the National Living Wage…

Managers campaign to save general practice Practice managers have launched a campaign to “save general practice”, highlighting the pressures and strains they face. The campaign from the IGPM calls on patients to write to their MPs asking them to support the campaign. It follows the imposition of the new GP contract with a funding increase…

General practice contract imposed as taskforce promised Imposed last night by NHS England, practices are to get a small funding increase of 2.23% as part of this year’s contract. The BMA is now set to run a ballot of GPs next month over whether to take protest action. The contract will require practices to “consider”…