Official announcements from the British Medical Association (BMA) or the Health Secretary

GPs in England Vote for Industrial Action for First Time in 60 Years, 98.3% in Favor

Aug 1, 2024, 12:49 AM

General Practitioners (GPs) in England have voted overwhelmingly in favor of taking industrial action for the first time in 60 years. The British Medical Association (BMA) announced that more than 8,500 GPs participated in the ballot, with 98.3% voting in favor of the action. The move is in response to a dispute over a 1.9% budget increase for GP services. The industrial action could see GPs capping the number of daily patient appointments to 25, down from the current average of 37. NHS chiefs have warned that this could have a 'catastrophic' effect on Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments, as millions of patients may be forced to turn to A&E for care. The Health Secretary has urged GPs not to punish patients, emphasizing the potential major knock-on effects across the health service. The BMA's decision comes amid fears that the NHS could be brought to a standstill, with GPs threatening to limit appointments and reduce services.