Nearly half of GPs are taking strike action in a move that could bring the health service to a standstill as GPs continue to argue over a new NHS contract, a poll has found
A poll has found that almost half of GP practices in England have already taken some form of strike action in a dispute over a new NHS contract.
According to the British Medical Association, GPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of action when the result of the vote was announced earlier this month.
The militant union has threatened to bring the NHS “to a standstill” with a series of crippling measures being introduced “slowly”.
But a quick poll of 283 GP partners by trade magazine Pulse shows that 46 percent are already taking some form of action and 20 percent plan to do so in the future. Only 7 percent rule out taking any action.
Nearly half of GP practices in England are taking strike action that threatens to bring the NHS ‘to a standstill’ (file image)
But a quick poll of 283 GP partners by trade magazine Pulse found that 46 percent are already taking some form of action and 20 percent plan to do so in the future (archive photo)
The BMA called the new contracts “ridiculous” and said a proposed 1.9 percent budget increase would keep many clinics afloat. The BMA said 98.3 percent of the 8,500 votes cast were in favor of strikes.
It encourages practices to choose from a list of ten actions, with practices able to choose how many they carry out and when – including halving the number of available appointments to a maximum of 25 per GP per day.
More than a quarter of practices responding to the survey were already limiting patient contact, while 44 percent said they were considering doing so.
A quarter of GPs said they believe industry action will cause harm to patients in the short term, and 19 per cent in the long term. But most think it will make no difference or reduce harm.
Health Minister Wes Streeting warned the measure would be a “punishment” for the population, while experts said the consequences were likely to be “catastrophic”.
