07/08/25 GPs in NI began collective action last week, implementing measures designed to reduce the unfunded work we carry out.
Some of the actions which practices will take as part of this include limiting patient consultations to 25 per clinician per day, serving notice on any voluntary work and insisting on referrals for specialist appointments ‘when clinically appropriate’.
The BMA states that GP collective action will continue until GPs receive ‘an improved financial offer’ from the Department of Health.
It comes after earlier this month NI GPs voted in favour of taking collective action for the first time, following this year’s first-ever contract imposition.
The Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, imposed the GMS contract for 2025/26 on GP practices for the first time this year, despite the offer being overwhelmingly rejected by the profession.
Now the BMA wants the Government to reopen contract negotiations for this year and for more resources to be allocated ‘immediately’ to stabilise general practice, as well as discussions for long-term improvements.
Patients may notice things such as being directed to appropriate alternative settings such as urgent care, phone first, out of hours, ED or NIAS; hospital having to arrange non-emergency ambulances; having to self refer to podiatry and physio; fit notes if you are under the care of the Trust as an outpatient or on discharge from acute care; urgent prescriptions from secondary care.
There is an assumption that in order to access other statutory services a letter or note from a GP is required. However, this is rarely the case and furthermore is it not resourced. Certain GP paperwork can be required to ensure patients can access other statutory services, however this is not resourced.
