GPs threaten to strike if Wes Streeting 'doesn't listen' in latest NHS threat

Surgeries across the UK have launched work to rule measures which could cripple the NHS, as a protest against “insufficient funding”.

Doctors have been told by the union that they can “pick and choose” from a range of options that are designed to cause chaos across the health service.

This includes a cap on appointments, with some surgeries limiting the number of patients each GP can see everyday to 25.

Other measures include not doing tests and check-ups for hospitals and refusing data-sharing requests.

Speaking to the BBC, Bramall-Stainer said: “If the Government don’t listen to us… if we don’t see rapid action quickly enough, 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.”

She said that the current industrial action is needed to “protect your local GP service”, insisting it does not intend to harm practices or patients in the process.

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Yesterday, Streeting urged doctors’ union leaders to work with the government and “stop sabre-rattling” on strikes over pay.

He warned BMA bosses that encouraging collective action would harm patients.

He told the broadcaster: “I do not find resistance in the NHS. People are crying out for change, and I have some good conversations with the BMA, actually, on reform. I contrast that with some of the sabre-rattling we’ve seen from the BMA’s GP committee.

“Despite the fact we put £100 million into GP unemployment in the first six weeks of this Government and our determination to grow primary care in general practice as a proportion of NHS budget, we still see sabre-rattling, the unnecessary threat of collective action – which, let’s be clear, would harm patients and put more burden on their colleagues in other parts of the NHS.

“I don’t think that’s where GPs are, actually. I think GPs want to work with this Government. They can see the seriousness of our intent, and GPs really care about their patients. They want, as we do, to rebuild the family-doctor relationship. I urge the BMA to work with us on that, and stop the sabre-rattling.”

Reacting to Streeting’s comments, Bramall-Stainer said: “Well, I heard that and I was disappointed, but I can understand the political subtext behind this.

“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.

“We’ve lost 2,000 practices over the past 15 years. That’s 20 per cent of GP surgeries gone. Thousands of GPs have been haemorrhaged from the NHS.

“One in four GPs knows another GP that has taken their own life. My own GP took his own life in 2021, and that’s not sabre-rattling. That is because general practice is collapsing now. We’re not in a position to be able to wait for long-term plans next year or consumer spending reviews.

“Our action isn’t striking. It’s not withdrawing labour or shutting our doors. It’s action that is legally permissible to stop more GP practice closures.”