NHSE Neighbourhood consultation
As you may be aware, NHS England is currently running a consultation on contractual options for the proposed Multi and Single Neighbourhood Provider models.
Whilst the BMA will be submitting a response shortly, we have produced guidance for practices and LMCs to help them input into the consultation, summarising the options outlined in the consultation and outlining key issues that they may wish to consider.
Read more about neighbourhood providers and the consultation here
We are aware that in many areas practices may be feeling under pressure to agree to neighbourhood working models. Practices do not have to, and should not be pressured to, sign up to local neighbourhood proposals, especially as such proposals are still under national consultation. If you feel under any such pressure please contact us.
GP collective action in August – raising patient awareness
By now, practices should have received a package of posters as part of our collective action for August. We hope you’ve already chosen the ones that work best for your practice and displayed them where they'll have impact; do please send us a photograph of the poster in place.
There are also leaflets in different languages that you can order from the BMA website, as well as short films to display on your reception screens, and graphics add to your practice website and other communications, all ready to download here.
Please do sign our public petition and encourage your patients as well, to show support for general practice and call on the Government to act.
Finally, we would encourage practices to write to your MP using our online tool and explain directly the pressures your practice is facing.
Collective action is not stopping. The GPC England officer team is exploring options of escalation of collective action in the coming months.
Taking part in this and any future collective actions will help keep your practice safe. These actions are lawful and do not breach your contract. The new Government has an opportunity to reset relations with the profession, and the door remains open to meaningful negotiations. However, we will continue to press for the changes general practice needs if our concerns are not addressed.
Read more about taking collective action and access our resources on taking part in collective action.
HSSIB report into the use of A&G (advice and guidance)
The HSSIB (Health Services Safety Investigations Body) has published an interim report on its investigation into the use of A&G services in the NHS in England, and the impact on patient safety.
Whilst the investigation heard support for A&G services where they are working well, it also found evidence that poorly designed or inadequately monitored pathways have contributed to physical harm, delayed and missed diagnoses, and in some cases to delays in cancer care.
Since the imposition of the 2026 contract that further embedded the use of A&G in general practice, GPC England has repeatedly raised issues with its implementation, and this report vindicates those concerns, now showing that patients have come to harm as a result of a rushed-out and inconsistently applied process.
Sanofi flu vaccination cancellations
We are aware that some practices have receive communications from Sanofi cancelling their flu vaccine orders, due to a manufacturing error. We are liaising with NHS England who are working with suppliers to ensure that sufficient stock will be available.
Health Foundation report on GP practice funding
The Health Foundation’s report on GP funding shows that real-terms earnings have dropped over the last 20 years, which confirms any additional funding is going into services, not GP pay.
The report is clear that GP funding is very modest with an average of £169 per patient for a full year of care compared to a single A&E attendance costing a minimum of £114 or an ambulance callout costing around £459. Extra funding is required to provide the appointments and time needed for our patients. GPs are the front door to the NHS, but broken promises from Government on funding have meant we have seen a slow and gradual decline taking general practice to breaking point.
We have lost more than 6,500 full-time GP partners since 2015, despite this GPs are delivering more appointments than ever before with 34 million delivered last month. We are asking the Government for a £50 per patient increase in funding lifting it to £219 per patient per year, allowing GPs to provide enough appointments and the proactive care that is needed.
GPCE bulletin: NHS England neighbourhood consultation | August collective action | HSSIB report into the use of A&G
