LMC considers mass resignation unless ‘rescue package’ delivered

The recently published material for the Local Medical Committee’s (LMC) special crisis conference includes a proposal to request that all GPs submit undated contract resignations, in the event that a rescue package is not secured.

The conference is due to take place in London on 30 January, and was announced after pressure from LMCs urged the government to evaluate the sustainability of general practice.

The motion also directs the General Practitioners Committee (GPC) to identify ‘actions that GPs can undertake without breaching their contracts’ and consider what services ‘must cease to reduce the workload to ensure safe and sustainable care for patients’.

Whilst industrial action has not been suggested, the motion has called for the GPC to enter negotiations with the government and discuss the necessity of a ‘rescue package’.

Other motions set to be debated include: GPs must have the right to call for the NHS to ’take on the head lease role of any GP premises’; the GPC ‘actively campaigns to abolish the regulation of general practice by the CQC’ and produce an alternative to the CQC regime of inspections; for revalidation to be suspended and the frequency of appraisals to be reduced; concern at the ‘intensity’ that GPs are working and calling for a 48 hour per week maximum and a reduction in core hours; separate contractual arrangements for home visits, vaccinations and patients in care homes; reduced bureaucracy for GP returners scheme; and increasing the duration of GP appointments to at least 15 minutes.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, GPC chair, said: “GPs’ first priority is their patients. They want to be able to provide enough time and appointments and ensure every member of the public who comes through their practice door gets a safe, high quality service.

“The calling of this special conference is a reflection of the untenable situation where relentless workload pressures, soaring demand and funding cuts has meant that GPs are prevented from providing this high standard of care.”