You may have heard about GP collective action – What could it mean for your GP visits?
News - 30 October 2024
GPs have been taking part in collective action since August 1st this year. This means you may notice some changes in the way services are provided. As part of GP collective action, GPs may stop or reduce certain work – although most services will continue as normal for patients and the NHS has said it is working hard to make sure it does not impact patients.
The team at Healthwatch Wirral has put together some answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about GP Collective Action.
What is GP collective action?
Collective action is not the same as industrial action (such as strikes). While collective action is taking place, GPs are still required to ensure they fulfil the obligations in their contracts.
There is no specific date for when the collective action might end – it could carry on for some time.
Why are GPs taking part in collective action?
The British Medical Association (BMA) explained that it has asked its member GPs for collective action due to concerns about pressures relating to the contract between GPs and the NHS called the General Medical Services (GMS) contract. Members were balloted in June, with the majority of GPs voting to go ahead with collective action, which began on August 1, 2024.
Local GP Dr Abel Adegoke, FRCGP, who is honorary secretary of Wirral Local Medical Committee, told Healthwatch Wirral the action was linked to concerns over workload and practices for GPs and staff after a new GP contract was put in place last year.
Will appointments stay the same?
Yes. The NHS has a clear message for patients during Collective Action – do keep attending appointments and coming forward for your usual care.
GP practices will still be open and you can still book appointments as usual through your practice.
How are services being affected?
GP practices still need to make sure they are fulfilling their contract with the NHS while the collective action is taking place, and this means appointments will still be offered between 8am – 6.30pm as usual.
Whilst this Collective Action is happening practices should still provide reasonable care, which includes making appointments available, providing advice and care, giving advice on alternative services, providing access to prescriptions, management of long-term conditions, vaccinations, diagnoses and referrals.
The NHS emphasises that Practices still need to take account of the needs of patients to avoid risks to safety and the benefits to patients of providing continuity of care.
Changes you may see will vary from GP practice to GP practice with the BMA issuing guidelines for GPs that show some of the ways services could be impacted – for example, more face-to-face appointments, more referrals to specialist services and changes to the way referrals are written out by GPs.
What is the NHS doing?
The NHS has said that it has been working hard to plan and mitigate the impacts of collective action and to provide reassurances to patients to keep attending to receive their usual care during this time.
More information about the NHS response to collective action can be found here.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside have published patient information regarding collective action, which can be viewed here.
We want to hear about your experiences
Healthwatch Wirral are keen to make sure that any impact on patients, as a direct result of the Collective Action, is recorded and monitored by the Primary Care Group (PCG) on Wirral. If you have any queries and concerns about the Collective Action and how it could be, or is, affecting you, please do get in touch with us.
We are here to listen, share and shape services to ensure local patients are at the heart of NHS provision. We’d love to hear your feedback, good and bad, about your experiences of any health and social care service.