BMA announces new GP support package

The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced a new package for GP practices across England, aimed at swaying MPs and local media.

The BMA believes the package, due to be delivered to over the next few weeks, can help ‘reverse the tide that is threatening to engulf the profession’. The parcel will include guidance on legally reducing workload and advice on how to federate, posters and similar advertisements.

The BMA maintains the campaign, entitled ‘An urgent prescription for general practice’ is a ‘direct response to the calls’ it has received at recent conferences.

The news comes ahead of the Special Local Medical Committee’s (LMC) conference, which will consider the proposal for all GPs to submit undated resignations unless the government tackles the GP crisis.

The pack will promote five principles, including: a safe, manageable workload; more time with patients; increased practice funding; more staff to support GPs; and less box ticking.

Dr Beth McCarron, a GPC executive team member, said the profession is struggling under the pressure from ‘declining funding, rising patient demand, staff shortages and the excessive burden being placed on it by outside bodies, such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC)’.

She added: “This crisis has been the catalyst for a new project to provide in-depth support to grassroots GPs that will be sent to GP practices across England.

“This resource pack, coupled with local and significant national campaigning, will allow GPs to begin fighting back, both in the practical and public sense, and reverse the tide that is threatening to overwhelm the profession.”