British Medical Association
The BMA represents, supports and negotiates on behalf of all UK doctors and medical students. They are member-run and led, fighting for the best terms and conditions as well as lobbying and campaigning on the issues impacting the medical profession.
For more information on the BMA, please visit: BMA - Home | British Medical Association
The importance of an up-to-date GP partnership agreement
Having a signed GP partnership agreement is vital. Make sure yours covers everything it needs to and learn the dangers of not having one in our guidance.
For further reading, please visit: The importance of an up-to-date GP partnership agreement (bma.org.uk)
Practical guide for taking on new GP partners
This guidance looks at considerations to make when first appointing a new partner, including due diligence, documents you need and references.
For further reading, please visit: Practical guide to taking on new GP partners (bma.org.uk)
Safe working in general practice
The BMA’s England GP committee (GPCE) has generated the following guide to enable practices to prioritise safe patient care, within the present bounds of the GMS contract.
For further reading, please visit: Safe working in general practice (bma.org.uk)
GMS contract and PMS agreement differences
To help GP practices make an informed decision, we set out the similarities and differences that exist between a contractors’ obligations whether they hold a GMS contract or PMS agreement.
For further reading, please visit: GMS contract and PMS agreement differences (bma.org.uk)
Safe working in general practice guidance
The BMA’s GPs committee England (GPCE) has updated its safe working guidance, to support and enable practices to prioritise their delivery of safe, high-quality patient care, within the regulatory and professional expectations of the Primary Medical Services (GMS/PMS) Contract.
Collective Action
The BMA has urged GP partners/contractors to start taking at least one of the actions detailed below, starting 1 August 2024.
These actions are easy, safe and sustainable. Above all they will turn up the pressure on the government to do the right thing for general practice and patients.
We need a new contract that is fit for purpose, one that provides the investment and workforce needed to reset general practice and provide patients with family doctors.
There are a number of actions that practices can take to support a safe service for their patients and their practice team. These can be found in detail on the BMA website.
GPC England does not recommend which actions a practice should take. It is for each practice to pick and choose. You do not need permission to do any of these actions. They are already permissible and will not result in contract breach. You may decide to add to your choices over the days, weeks, and months ahead. Some of these actions can be permanent changes. Others may be de-escalated following negotiations with the new government. This is for you to decide, and for us at the LMC to support you.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Q. Is my practice striking?
No. GP practices are in dispute with the government over an imposed GP contract. They are taking collective action in an aim to save general practice.
It’s not a strike, it’s an opportunity for a collective ‘reset’ until the government agrees to a new contract.
Q. What does collective action mean?
When GPCE refers to ‘collective action’ it means concerted action taken together by GP contractors/partners, which does not breach their contracts, to apply pressure to the government to negotiate positive changes to the GP contract and/or agree a new substantive national GMS (General Medical Services) contract across the next Parliament.
There are a number of actions provided by the BMA which practices can take to support a safe service for their patients and their practice team. The actions chosen may depend on your patients, your local contracts and your LMC’s feedback.
Q. Why is collective action happening?
The aim is to get the government back around the table to negotiate in good faith with GPCE. We want to deliver a new contract for the profession across England that provides the investment needed to transform, rebuild, and reinvigorate general practice.
Q. When will collective action start?
Collective action started 1st August 2024; however, practices may choose to implement collective action at different times.
Q. How long will collective action last?
Some of the changes practices choose to take can be permanent changes, such as a safe limit of the number of contacts clinicians have. Others may be de-escalated following negotiations with the new government. It is until the next government comes to the table and agrees a new contract that is safe for GP contractors / partners, their practices, and their patients.
Q. Will we be in breach of our contract?
No, the ten actions provided by the BMA will not result in a breach of contract. For a list of the actions, click here
Q. What will happen if the government doesn’t agree a new contract?
We hope we never get there, and the new government listens to the reasonable proposals, but further steps could involve escalation to contract breach actions, e.g. action short of strike or strike action.
Q. Can we tell patients we have reduced appointments as part of collective action?
Whilst capping appointment numbers is part of collective action, Nottinghamshire LMC sees safe working limits as part of a longer campaign to protect the well being of staff and preserve patient care.
Q. How can patients help?
Patients can join your PPG to support the practice and influence the way local services are delivered. These slides are available to consider showing at a PPG meeting.
Acronyms
BMA – British Medical Association
GPCE – General Practitioners Committee England
LMC – Local Medical Committee
PPG – Patient Participation Group