GPs are not going on strike and we will remain open as usual.

There is no proposed action that will create a breach of our contracts.

During collective action, GP practices are still required to:

• Make appointments available
• Provide advice or care to patients by another means
• Give advice on alternative services
• Provide access to prescriptions, long-term condition management, vaccinations, diagnoses and referral (including where clinically urgent)

General Practice funding is less than £108 per patient per year, this equates to at most 2-3 contacts per year per patient, compared to the cost of an outpatient appointment estimated to start at £130-£400, there is something about demand and reasonable expectation.  

The £108 per patient, is to run practice premises and employ staff, this is not enough for GPs to employ enough staff to give patients the care they deserve.  The financial situation is unsustainable, with many Practices having to shut, because they cannot afford to keep going.

• GP surgeries will remain open for all their normal core working hours.

• Number of contacts – they will limit, to a recommended safe number, of contacts per day, others will be diverted to local urgent care settings, once the maximum capacity has been reached.

• No patients care will be put at risk. It may be that patients will be diverted to local urgent care settings once the GP’s have reached their maximum capacity.

• GPs are not going to carry out work that they are not contracted to do.

• GPs will not complete unnecessary forms and templates as part of referrals but will still provide all the necessary information that is required to ensure all patients are referred when it is needed for their health problem.