GP contract 2024/25 changes

After this vote concluded in August 2024, the results came through showing a large majority of GP's/contractor are in favour of taking collective action. 

The trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK, the British Medical Association (BMA), are hoping that new their methods of collective action will 'turn up the pressure on the Government to do the right thing for general practice and patients'. 

The BMA have outlined their ten methods of action and are inviting GP contactors/partner to commence the actions that their practice have decided they are willing to take. GP contractors/partners are permitted to use any number of the following actions:

1. Limit daily patient contacts per clinician
2. Stop engaging with the e-Referral Advice & Guidance pathway
3. Serve notice on any voluntary services currently undertaken that plug local commissioning gaps
4. Stop rationing referrals, investigations, and admissions​
5. Switch off GPConnect Update Record
6. Withdraw permission for data sharing agreements that exclusively use data for secondary purposes 
7. Freeze sign-up to any new data sharing agreements or local system data sharing platforms.
8. Switch off Medicines Optimisation Software 
9. Defer signing declarations of completion for “better digital telephony” and “simpler online requests” until further GPC England guidance is available.
10. Defer making any decisions to accept local or national NHSE Pilot programmes whilst we explore opportunities with the new Government.

In response to these changes, NHS England have said the following: 

'The NHS is asking the public to come forward as usual for care during collective action. If you have an appointment with your GP practice, you should attend as usual, unless you are told otherwise.

Practices will still be open and see patients and you can book appointments through your GP practice. However, some GPs may direct patients to other local services.'

Moreover, NHS England have said that during collective action, practices are still required to fulfil their contracts, this essentially means:

• practices are required to be open between 8am and 6:30pm Monday to Friday
• practices should provide reasonable care to patients this includes:
  • making appointments available
  • providing advice or care to patients by another means
  • give advice on alternative services
  • providing access to prescriptions, long terms condition management, vaccinations, diagnoses and referral (including where clinically urgent)
• practices also need to take into account:
  • the needs of a patient to avoid risks to patient safety
  • the benefits to patients of providing continuity of care

The General Practitioners Committee for England (GPCE) have not recommending which action(s) practices should take. Instead, it is for each practice to 'pick and choose as they see fit'. 

Moreover, they are not currently calling on GP contractors / partners to take any action that will place GP contractors in breach of their contract.

How will this affect me?

Depending on what your practice decides this will affect you in different ways. If you are concerned, please get in touch with your practice to find out more or get in touch with us and well do our best to answer any queries you have.

Call HWM today on 0300 078 0669