GPs are being asked to say whether they will join a novel kind of industrial action in England to press for more resources for primary care.

Ballot papers have been issued to doctors by the British Medical Association.

Under the proposals practices will suspend registrations of new patients or apply for formal list closure.

The plan was agreed earlier this year by the conference of local medical committees – and would mean practices stating they could not cope with increased workload from extra patients.

Doctors have been given one month to return their ballot papers.

The novel form of action could put practices at risk of breach of contract.

A question and answer document with the ballot paper warns that NHS England has power simply to allocate patients.

It adds: “There is a risk that temporary suspension of new registrations for the purposes of taking industrial action may be deemed as a breach of contract. However there is no case law in this regard, which means definitive advice is difficult to offer.”

Dr Richard Vautrey, acting chair of the BMA’s GP committee, has written to doctors stating: “GPC England has been asked to ballot practices as to whether GPs in England are prepared to collectively close their practice lists.

“Such action would constitute industrial action, and with significant implications on GPs as independent contractors. GPC England needs a clear understanding of the views of all GP practices on this issue.”