GPs capping patient numbers could have ‘catastrophic’ effect on A&E, says NHS chief

Industrial action by GPs could have a “catastrophic” impact on A&E units, the 111 telephone advice service and mental healthcare, a senior NHS leader has told the Guardian.

Family doctors who run GP surgeries across England are about to finish voting on whether to reduce the care they provide – including limiting the number of patients they see to 25 a day – in protest at the previous government increasing their budget by only 1.9% this year.

The ballot of GP partners being run by the British Medical Association (BMA) closes on Monday, with the result known soon afterwards. They are expected to vote in favour of taking industrial action – but not striking – that would start on Thursday.

The outcome of the ballot could pose another headache for Wes Streeting, the health secretary, who is holding talks with junior doctors aimed at resolving their long-running pay dispute during which they have gone on strike 11 times over the past 17 months in pursuit of a 35% rise.

In his first major policy announcement since replacing Victoria Atkins on 5 July, Streeting pledged to increase the share of the NHS budget that goes to general practice.

Referring to the prospect of industrial action by GPs, a source close to Streeting said: “This is just the latest example of the mess left by the Conservatives. We are determined to work with the profession to rebuild general practice, which is critical to making the NHS fit for the future. We will increase the proportion of resources going into primary care over time and help address the issues GPs face.”

There is huge concern across the NHS that GPs capping their patient contacts to 25 a day would cause significant disruption, with family doctors referring more patients than usual to already-overstretched hospitals as another tactic to force NHS England and ministers into a rethink. It could also extend waiting times for diagnostic tests and non-urgent hospital care, NHS chiefs fear.

“If all GPs implemented the patient cap, that could have a catastrophic effect on the entire healthcare system”, said Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation. “General practice is now supporting more patients than before the Covid pandemic, so any reduction in their activity will put more pressure on other services, including A&E.”

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Source: The Guardian, 28 July 2024