Doctors and activists across London have staged a protest against the purchase of 50 practices by a well-connected giant US health insurance company. Some 49 practices in the capital have been sold to an offshoot of the Centene Corporation. The medical trade union, Doctors in Unite, says the pace of privatisation of the NHS is accelerating…

Practices are considering switching off an online contact system over weekends because of the “unmanageable” workload they face on Mondays, it has been revealed. In Kent the local medical committee is consulting members about whether to press for this change and has been holding a poll of doctors. The LMC said it expected the poll…

Plans to ensure new mothers discuss their mental health with GPs may have fallen foul of the pandemic, according to a survey published today. The appointments were introduced into the GP contract last year as part of a drive to improve maternal mental health. They are meant to be a separate discussion to the six…

Angling is to be added to the menu of options for practices seeking to tackle patient mental health problems through social prescribing, it has been reported. Patients in Greater Manchester can now be referred to an angling charity, Tackling Minds, the Daily Telegraph reported. Organisers hope the tranquillity of spending a day by the waterside…

Senior GPs have called for a national inquiry after new complaints that patients are heading to emergency departments because they cannot get appointments. GPs say they have been working harder than ever before – but are now facing “unprecedented levels of burnout.” The Doctors’ Association has written to health secretary Matt Hancock, senior NHS officials…

Practices in London are to have the option of referring patients for financial support and advice as part of a social prescribing scheme. The project is to run in Lambeth and Southwark and developers claim it as the first scheme of its kind. Known as Financial Shield, it has been developed by two charities, Responsible…

The pandemic has thrown up new employment problems for practices, leading to a surge in inquiries to helplines, it has been reported. Practice managers and GPs struggled with the implications of the pandemic, of long COVID, of staff fear of infection and of self-isolation, according to helpline staff. Practices sought advice about staff absences and…