Burnout levels among practice staff have reached “emergency levels” following the pandemic, a top-level parliamentary report has warned. The Health and Social Care Select Committee report on workforce burnout and resilience in the NHS and social care warns that only an overhaul of workforce planning can prevent further deterioration. The committee, chaired by former Health…

The controversial upload of GP practice data to a research database has been paused following threats of legal action and complaints about lack of public awareness, it has been announced. The upload is now due to take place on 1 September rather than 1 July, NHS Digital said. It had faced legal action from privacy…

Pressure was growing today for the government to intervene to stop an increasingly controversial upload of patient data from practices. Two leading GP organisations called for an “immediate delay” after campaigners launched legal action against NHS Digital. The Labour Party today also stepped in to call for a delay and public consultation on the proposals.…

A court action could block the controversial transfer of data from practices to NHS Digital, campaigners announced last night. The Doctors’ Association UK has joined other campaign groups, including the National Pensioners Convention, in threatening a legal action, alleging there is inadequate patient consent for the transfer. Other campaigners include openDemocracy and Conservative MP David…

I went for a face-to-face appointment at my GP surgery last week. Mask safely covering the huge zit that had developed on my chin – check. For once, though, I wasn’t there in an official or a work capacity, but as a patient. Yet, as I sat in the silent and sombre waiting room, my…

Practices are beginning to withdraw from the COVID-19 vaccination programme to concentrate on basic services, it has been reported. The Independent quotes examples of practices and primary care networks that have opted out of further vaccination responsibilities. Many networks made a decision in March not to sign up for phase 2 of the programme, it…

GP leaders have called for a national campaign to explain new proposals for sharing data from general practices – amid growing concern about public ignorance of the project. One group of practices, in Tower Hamlets, London, is to refuse to cooperate with the NHS Digital project until the public is better informed, the Guardian reported…