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 to their risk registers.

GPs and Practice Managers are angry that funding for practices has been increased by just 2.2% this year in spite of the growing crisis in primary care. Also, the BMA says the contract could have done more to support practices in recruiting doctors.

Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, Chair of the BMA’s GP Committee for England, said: “We don’t want to take any kind of industrial action and hope it can be avoided, but the further NHS England and the Government get from working with us on solutions, the closer GPs get to taking action.”

Rescue proposal for Northern Ireland practices

Northern Ireland desperately needs a range of measures to stem the loss of GPs and practices.

The proposals from the region’s Royal College of GPs call for support for doctors to continue working in general practice after retirement together with improved support for practice mergers and practices at risk.

The college’s Regional Chair, Dr Ursula Mason, said: “We know that general practice needs investment in a sustainable funding model and a properly enacted and resourced workforce plan in the long-term, but there are actions that could be taken in the short to medium-term that would make a real difference. We need to provide tailored interventions to make working as a GP in Northern Ireland more attractive across all career stages.”

Good-quality practice linked to life expectancy

According to researchers at the University of Leicester, access to good-quality general practice is linked to improved life expectancy.

The researchers looked at the impact of having practices staffed by fully qualified GPs with good funding and continuity of care. They found this was linked to longer life, regardless of deprivation within the communities where practices were based – even though deprivation remains a key factor in health.

Researcher Professor Richard Baker said: “The findings of the study are important not only because they highlight the role of general practice in improving population health but also because they indicate which features of general practice should be considered in future policy developments. They suggest that health service policies should give priority to increasing the numbers of fully qualified GPs, increasing general practice funding per patient, and improving continuity and access.”   

Call for pause in Physician Associate recruitment

Senior doctors have made a fresh call for a pause in the recruitment of new Physician Associates while “significant” patient safety concerns are addressed.

The BMA wants NHS England to adopt its “safe scope of practice” guidance, which specifies that PAs should work as assistants to doctors. The guidance would require PAs to ensure that patients know they’re not doctors, and would prevent them from making initial diagnoses or independent management decisions.

BMA Chair Professor Phil Banfield wrote to NHS E this week, stating: “Our surveys have exposed large numbers of situations in which PAs are practising outside expected competencies. There is a lack of ‘universal quality assurance’ or a national governance mechanism.”

Thousands view #RightCareFirstTime video

More than 2,000 people have viewed a video launched by Practice Managers aimed at explaining to patients why they should cooperate with practice staff to see the right professional. The Right Care First Time campaign, from the IGPM, puts forward the message that “you don’t always need to see a GP”.

It aims to support receptionists and other trained staff who advise patients that a nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist or other professional may be the person they need to see rather than a doctor.

Latest Covid vaccine programme underway

Booking for the spring Covid vaccination programme opened this week. The vaccine is being offered to those aged over 75, those in care homes and those with weakened immune systems – and the programme is due for completion by the end of June.

NHS National Director for Vaccinations Steve Russell said: “This spring, the NHS is offering the COVID-19 vaccine to those that are at highest risk of getting seriously unwell if they catch the virus. COVID-19 can still be very dangerous, particularly for older people and those with a weakened immune system, and over time immunity – either from having the virus or from a previous vaccination – can fade, so it is vital that those who are at higher risk top up their protection.”