A RETIRED GP in Bromsgrove has expressed major concerns after the British Medical Association (BMA) has called on GPs to take collective action for the first time since 1975.
Barry Bywater, 80-year-old former GP who started in 1970 and retired in 2011, believes GPs refusing to take action despite BMA’s calls would do ‘much to improve patient respect and trust’.
“For all of my 41 years I was passionate about general practice and it being the cornerstone and gatekeeper of the NHS,” Barry said.
“I am very concerned about BMA’s call for industrial action from GPs. I would hope in solidarity they refused.”
The association called for ‘collective action’ after BMA entered a dispute with NHS England following a member referendum on contract changes for GPs in March.
Following the referendum – which saw 99.2 per cent of BMA’s GP and GP registrar members vote against the 2024/25 contract – GPs registered with BMA were instructed to vote on industrial action via ballot by July 29.
More than 8,500 GPs in England took part in the ballot and 98.3 per cent voted in favour of taking part in one or more examples of collective action which was due to begin on August 1.
Chair of BMA general practitioners committee, Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, says industrial action could include ‘pulling out from data sharing agreements’ or ‘pushing back against NHS England to instead offer face-to-face appointments as a default’.
Following the ballot result, Dr Bramall-Stainer said: This is an act of desperation. For too long, we’ve been unable to provide the care we want to. We are witnessing general practice being broken.”
Barry was among a group of steadfast Bromsgrove GPs who from the outset ‘refused to support’ strike action back in 1975.
He said: “We were actually called ‘blacklegs’ by some militant GP’s in Worcestershire. Only 1 in 4 GPs across the country finally took any action, but I am not so sure that will be the case this time.
“In 49 years as a medic I have witnessed many NHS changes, but I fear the more recent ones in general practice cannot be reversed even if the will of GPs to try existed.”
