GPs threaten industrial action over plans to ‘name and shame’ surgeries with less in person appointments

GPs in England have threatened industrial action in light of the government’s plans to pressure them to undertake face-to-face appointments for any patient who wants them.

The GPs committee of the British Medical Association (BMA), the UK’s largest trade union for doctors, has voted unanimously to reject the health secretary’s plans unveiled earlier this week.

Sajid Javid faced sharp criticism for the new guidelines in which the Department of Health proposed “naming and shaming” surgeries that have small numbers of in-person appointments.

The union, which has over 158,000 members, is to hold a vote on industrial action.

Responding to the news, the new Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: “This shows the government’s deliberately provocative plans to name and shame GPs has backfired.

“Sajid Javid must now dial down the rhetoric and get round the table with doctors and patient groups to find a way forward.

“It would be unforgivable if, as we enter a winter crisis, people are unable to access their local GP.”

On Wednesday Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation called on the government to implement tougher restrictions as UK Covid deaths hit their highest figure since March.

Figures released today by NHS England last week show there are a record 5.7 million people in England waiting for hospital treatment.