2024-25 GP contract referendum open – last chance to vote
GPC England voted unanimously to reject the derisory 1.9% 2024/25 GP contractual uplift and changes from the Government and NHS England. This is your opportunity to send a strong signal as to how the profession feels about the final contract and how we collectively move forward to protect the future of General Practice
The member referendum on the contract is now open and closes at midday on 27 March. You should by now have received an email from Civica with your unique voting link.
Watch a video of GPs committee chair Katie Bramall-Stainer discussing the GP contract referendum and last chance to vote – https://youtu.be/S4oPp0gRq8Q
Missing your ballot voting link?
There were some membership coding issues for a minority of members when the referendum opened.
However, if you are still missing your ballot, please follow the actions below:
· Check your junk folder in the email account that you have registered with the BMA.
· Search for an email from the British Medical Association: ‘bma@cesvotes.com’
· Log-in to your BMA account and check your membership data with us is up to date. If you are having issues updating your details, email our Membership Team to get support. We normally respond on the same day.
· Civica receives new data from the BMA every two working days, which enables them to send out voting links to new and existing members who have updated their details
· If you still have not received a voting link after following the above steps, please complete our form and we will be in touch shortly.
· If you have been in touch with us already, we will get back to you directly to support you and ensure you get your voting link email in plenty of time. Normally on the same day.
· If you are not a BMA member, join the BMA by Monday 25 March to have your say in this and any future votes. Spread the word – get your colleagues to join and vote, we want and need to hear from the profession.
· They need to have joined by first thing Monday 25 March, to have their say in this and any future votes
Find out about the current contract changes and read our FAQs to learn what this means for you
If you have any questions about the referendum, please contact us on gpreferendum@bma.org.uk
How you vote will determine our next steps as a profession.
GPs see the equivalent of half the UK population every month.
England general practice SOS
💥 Over 1000 practices gone 💥 1,900 fewer full-time qualified GPs 💥 Over 6,000,000 more patients on the books 💥 Equivalent of 1:2 population seen EACH month 💥 400 million consults per annum 💥 5-6% of overall NHS funding spent on practice contracts 💥 5% of all NHS staff |
Emergency motion at GPC UK on The Phoenix Partnership (TPP)
At its meeting last week, GPC UK debated and passed the following motion:
That this meeting is disgusted by the reported violent, openly racist and misogynistic comments made by Frank Hester, Director of The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), and directed at the Rt Hon Ms Diane Abbott MP, and:
i) notes that his comments contravene NHS England’s fit and proper person test framework introduced in response to the 2019 Kark Review recommendations, taking into account CQC requirements in relation to directors
ii) calls upon UK health boards to apply their own processes vigilantly when contracting external stakeholders whose views and values may not align with the wider professional national NHS workforce
iii) advises GP practices to consider Hester’s comments prior to signing new contracts with TPP
iv) believes Frank Hester should resign and handover his Directorship with immediate effect.
You can read more here.
GP Connect issue
Following recent reports that NHSE has been exploring using GP Connect as a means of centrally pulling patient data from practices, the BMA is seeking immediate clarification from relevant stakeholders. Data transferred via GP Connect is shared on the clear understanding that it is used for direct care. The deployment of the platform for any other purposes – including to circumvent GPs statutory role as data controllers, and access patient data for uses other than direct care is a clear contravention of the agreement put in place to use GP Connect.
Rebuild General Practice patient engagement toolkit
Rebuild General Practice has launched a patient engagement toolkit action pack containing ideas, tools and support available for Local Medical Committees (LMCs) and individual GPs wishing to engage with patients about the Rebuild General Practice campaign.
Watch the Rebuild General Practice patient engagement animation which can be downloaded to the screens of your surgery.
GP Registrars survey highlights increased levels of burnout and worries about future
A survey by the BMA’s GP Registrars Committee showed that qualified doctors who are training to become GPs in the UK are facing increased levels of burnout and are worried about their health prospects early in their careers.
In addition, under 10% of those who took part in the survey said they intend to work as a full-time GP, with just less than 20% stating that they feel confident of their future as a GP working in the UK.
Last chance for NHSE New to Practice GP and Nurse Fellowship sign up: deadline 31st March
NHSE recently announced the cessation of the NHSE GP and Nurse fellowship schemes
We would like to remind encourage those GPs eligible (within 12 months of CCT), to sign up for the programme in advance of the 31st March 2024 deadline. Please get in touch with your local Training Hubs for details regarding how to register.
Please also send any feedback on the scheme to info.gpc@bma.org
Annual flu letter
The tripartite annual flu letter for 2024/25 has now been published: National flu immunisation programme 2024 to 2025 letter - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The letter sets out for providers the details of which cohorts are eligible for a flu vaccine in 2024/25 and which vaccines will be reimbursable. There are no changes to the cohorts for next year’s programme, but based on JCVI advice, there are changes to the timing of the adult programme.
NHSE will aim to publish the flu service specifications shortly.
Very high-risk breast screening
NHS England is currently contacting a group of 1,487 women at very high risk of breast cancer following chest radiotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma, after NHSE was alerted that some of these women treated when aged between 10 to 35 years during 1962 to 2003 may not have been invited for this annual testing. NHSE has sent a letter apologising for what has happened and NHS breast screening services will follow up by offering appointments.
Anyone who thinks they might be in this group can get further information and support from a dedicated helpline: 0345 8778962
More information can be found on the NHS website
Guidance on conditions for which over-the-counter items should not routinely be prescribed
NHS England has published new guidance on conditions for which over the counter items should not be routinely prescribed in primary care: NHS England » Policy guidance: conditions for which over the counter items should not be routinely prescribed in primary care
GPC UK Regional Elections
The voting period is now open for seats to the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) in the following regions:
Norfolk/Suffolk/Great Yarmouth & Waveney
Enfield & Haringey/Camden & Islington/Barnet/Kensington & Chelsea/Westminster
Sefton/Liverpool/Wirral
Salford & Trafford/Manchester/Stockport
Forth Valley/Fife/Lothian/Tayside
E Sussex/W Sussex
Derbys/Notts
Herefordshire/Worcs/Warks/Coventry
Birmingham/Solihull
To submit your vote for any of the above seats please visit https://elections.bma.org.uk/ (The deadline for voting is 12pm Tuesday 26th March 2024).
Non-BMA members - You will need a BMA web account to access the election – you may already have one if you have registered for one to attend an LMC conference or if you have previously been a BMA member – if you think you have an account but are not sure please email elections@bma.org.uk with your GMC number and the team can check for you.
If you do not have an account, please contact support@bma.org.uk to let them know you need a web account to be able to participate in the GPC election. A member of the team will help you create an account and you will be assigned an BMA ID number, please email elections@bma.org.uk with this number and details of the region you wish to participate in. The team can then grant you access to the election.
If you have any queries regarding the election process, please contact elections@bma.org.uk.
Updating LMC contact details
A reminder for LMCs when updating any contact details, or any changes to personnel, to please email Karen Day kday@bma.org.uk.
GPC England committee pages and guidance for practices
Read more about the work of GPCE and practical guidance for GP practices. See the latest update on X @BMA_GPand read about BMA in the media. Contact us: info.GPC@bma.org.uk
Read the latest GPC England bulletin
Samira Anane
GPC England deputy chair
Email: Sanane@bma.org.uk