Practices forced to close early by riot threat

Practices closed early last night amid fears of new riots in many UK towns and cities. In many locations, the planned far-right protests failed to materialise, but practice leaders condemned the violence which has placed migrants and ethnic communities in fear of their lives and led to attacks on hotels and high street premises over the weekend.

Carla Mathurin, BAME representative at the IGPM, said: “We encourage NHS employers to support and protect migrant and BAME staff members from any racism, including from patients, who may be part of violent groups intent on wreaking havoc rather than using the democratic system we have in the UK.”

NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard said: “To those reading this in positions of leadership, my ask of you is equally simple: in your words, but more importantly in your actions, please ensure you are demonstrating that most British value of community, now more than ever. And specifically, show in your actions that when we say we have zero tolerance of racism towards our patients or colleagues, in whatever form it takes, we really mean it – even when it is difficult or uncomfortable.”

NHS braces itself for the cost of GP action

The GP protest action could cost the NHS more than £500 million within four months, according to a leaked estimate. The NHS England projection is based on a 30% reduction in GP activity, leading to half a million extra hospital referrals. A 10% reduction in activity would cost more than £200 million and lead to 250,000 extra referrals, the Health Service Journal reported.

The BMA has said the action will be a “slow burn” while talks continue with the Government. It has told GPs they can limit patient contacts to 25 a day and refer all additional enquiries to urgent care services. They can also stop “rationing” referrals and investigations.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting wrote to practices after the GP action decision, promising to accept the 6% earnings increase proposed by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body. This will mean 4% extra in the current year.

End the use of GP “sessions”

According to new research, which found that doctors no longer complete their work in the time allocated, it’s time to end the idea of GPs working in “sessions”.

As reported in the British Journal of General Practice, overall doctors spend 50% more time on a half-day session than is allocated for it. Researchers found that full-time working is now the equivalent of six sessions – which occupy 37.5 hours a week. The findings come from an analysis of surveys of GPs conducted six times since 2010.

“We’d recommend removing sessions as a definition of full-time working,” said researcher Dr Joseph Hutchinson, from the University of Manchester.

London confidence in patient safety slumps

According to a new survey, the number of practices in London confident of meeting patient need safely this winter has fallen sharply. In a regular survey from the Londonwide Local Medical Committees, just 19% of practices felt they would be safe for the winter. This compared with 24% in the last survey, and 29% before that – just one year ago.

248 of London’s 1,121 practices took part in the survey and 39% reported holding staff vacancies. Most of these were short of at least one doctor.

The LMCs say the survey can be used to help encourage London MPs to make visits to practices and provide evidence to parliamentary enquiries.

Anger as board centralises management

Practices have objected after a large ICB set out plans to centralise its management, removing local organisations. The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB has, until now, operated with three “places”, with local managers working within the three geographical areas it now covers. It says removing these would “strengthen internal functions” and help it cut running costs by 30%.

The Health Service Journal reports criticism at a meeting of Oxfordshire County Council’s health scrutiny committee, which is now requesting Health Secretary Wes Streeting to review the proposals.

Local GP, Dr Michelle Brennan, accused the ICB of a “shift towards centralisation”. Hannah Iqbal from the ICB said it had “not handled the partner aspect of the process very well at all”.