The British Medical Association (BMA) has issued a stark warning about potential general practitioner (GP) strikes if the Health Secretary fails to address their concerns promptly. This development comes amidst ongoing tensions between the medical union and the government over funding and working conditions in the National Health Service (NHS).
Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA's GP committee, emphasized the possibility of further industrial action if the government doesn't respond adequately to their demands. She stated, "If the Government don't listen to us... my worry is that the employed GPs or other employed members of staff, such as practice nurses, may decide to undertake a ballot to undertake industrial action and potentially even strike."
Currently, GP practices across the UK are implementing "work-to-rule" measures, which the BMA insists are designed to protect local GP services rather than harm patients. These measures include capping daily patient contacts at 25 per GP, significantly lower than the average of 41 patients seen by UK GPs daily.
The BMA's actions come in response to what they perceive as insufficient funding from the government. Despite a recent 7.4% increase in the main funding pot for GPs, the union argues this falls short of their demands. They are seeking a 10.7% uplift to restore real-terms income to 2018-19 levels.
Dr Bramall-Stainer refuted claims of "sabre-rattling" made by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, highlighting the critical state of general practice in the UK. She pointed out that over the past 15 years, the country has lost 2,000 GP practices, representing a 20% decrease. This decline has occurred despite the NHS being one of the world's largest employers, with over 1.3 million staff.
"To suggest that we're sabre-rattling, I don't think is going to chime with your listeners, who probably will also have experienced immense changes to their local GP and family doctor service."
The BMA representative also raised concerns about the mental health of GPs, revealing that one in four GPs knows a colleague who has taken their own life. This statistic underscores the immense pressure faced by primary care physicians in the UK, where GP consultations average just 9.22 minutes, among the shortest in Europe.
The ongoing dispute occurs against a backdrop of increasing strain on the NHS. The UK government had pledged to recruit 6,000 more GPs by 2024 but failed to meet this target. Meanwhile, the number of patients per GP in England has risen by 15% since 2015, further exacerbating the workload issues faced by family doctors.
As negotiations continue, the BMA remains firm in its stance that current government funding is "woefully inadequate." With the NHS budget for 2024/25 standing at approximately £180 billion, the union argues that more resources need to be allocated to primary care to prevent further practice closures and maintain the quality of patient care.
The situation remains tense as both sides seek a resolution. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the future of primary care in the UK, affecting millions of patients who rely on the NHS for their healthcare needs.