Doctors have renewed calls for radical action in protest at changes imposed on the general practice without agreement.

Practices should withdraw from primary care networks and plan for “industrial action” until NHS England withdraws unpopular contractual impositions, the British Medical Association conference resolved yesterday. The vote, passed with 57% support, means the BMA has a mandate for industrial action among junior doctors and among GPs. 17% of delegates voted against the motion and others abstained.

However, it may create conflict between grassroots doctors and GP leaders. Speakers at the conference referred to the rail unions, echoing comparisons made on Monday when the conference called for a 30% pay boost. Among measures in the contested contractual changes is a requirement for primary care networks to provide access to a full range of general practice services on Saturdays.

London GP Dr Jackie Applebee described primary care networks as a “Trojan Horse” and said: “The new contracts have already effectively been imposed. But that doesn’t mean that GPs are powerless to act. I know some of you will be worried about industrial action. But how much more can we take? We should take our lead from the RMT, they have quite rightly said enough is enough. No more pay erosion, no more service cuts. The RMT’s issues very much chime with those we face in the NHS – solidarity to them. So, let’s channel our inner Mick Lynch.”

She added: “To those of you who are nervous about industrial action, the landscape is changing all the time. Even the barristers were on strike yesterday. Enough is enough. How much longer can we go on? We are heading for oblivion if we do not have the courage to fight for ourselves.”

The debate revealed concerns about the course of action among leading GPs in the BMA with leading GPs stating that the plans for action would “tie the hands” of negotiators. The deputy chair of its English GP committee, Dr Kieran Sharrock, said there was not “a strong enough appetite” for action.
The committee chair Dr Farah Jameel told delegates that primary care networks are not “universally bad” and sometimes helpful.