GPs to ‘limit appointments’ in work-to-rule plans that could kick in before December – if ministers don’t meet pay demands

GPs could set strict limits on patient appointments if the Government fails to meet the pay demands of the militant doctors’ union.

Family doctors could refuse to see more than 20 patients a day, and transfer some duties to busy hospitals. 

The threats feature in a document stating the demands of The British Medical Association (BMA), who is currently negotiating with ministers over several grievances. 

The plans amount to a work-to-rule strategy, with GPs encouraged to stop carrying out work beyond their contractual obligations while the union holds fresh talks with ministers and NHS officials. 

Further industrial action could include national protests and GPs sending patients back to hospital services for prescriptions, referrals and follow-up care. 

The dispute centres on claims that GPs are being asked to increase their workload without sufficient funding. 

The union is asking for more funding, less unpaid admin, and a Government commitment to reduce workload pressures. 

If talks fail to deliver ‘meaningful progress’, industrial action – including the appointment limit – could come into effect earlier than December, the BMA says. 

The document, seen by the doctors’ magazine Pulse, states: ‘These actions would be considered as part of the escalation strategy if insufficient progress is made in discussions with the Government.’

However the union has said if ministers agree to sit down and negotiate directly again over the GP contract, they may call off the dispute. 

The row follows contractual changes introduced earlier this year, which made it compulsory for GPs to offer same-day appointments for ‘urgent’ health needs.

At the time, the BMA said the move would likely be presented as a ‘major win’ for the patient, while leaving family doctors struggling to meet demand. 

The union has previously stated that 20 is the maximum number of patients a GP can safely see in one day. 

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has also earmarked £300million to increase the working hours of existing GPs and recruit more doctors. 

Former health secretary Wes Streeting said the Government was ‘fixing the front door to the NHS’.

But Dr Katie Bramall, chairman of the BMA’s GP Committee, warned there is a risk patient expectations of securing a same-day appointment ‘won’t be matched by NHS reality’.

She added: ‘GPs will be left reeling over the unrealistic expectation of providing unlimited same-day urgent care and profoundly concerned regarding unnecessary barriers for patients to access specialist care all while trying to keep their practices viable and prevent closures.’