GPs have been advised not to sign a recent variation notice to their terms in protest against NHS England’s imposition of this year’s contract.
A number of LMCs shared a message saying that GP practices may ‘at any time, but particularly during collective action’ opt not to sign the variation notice, which was recently published by NHS England and will be sent out by ICBs.
The LMCs, including Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Kent and YOR, said that signing ‘may be seen as acceptance or even endorsement’ of the deal NHS England has imposed and that not signing would send ‘a small but potentially useful message back to NHSE’ as part of wider collective action.
The imposed contract variations will take effect 14 days from the date they are served on the practice, regardless of whether or not the practice signs, so this will not affect funding, the LMCs added.
The message said: ‘ICBs will be sending out contract variation notices for signature, if they have not already done so. We have had quite a few GPs and PMs asking if the LMC or GPC England have “approved” this change, or if it is “OK” to sign the contract variation.
‘This is a nationally imposed change. Your union, the BMA, has announced a period of collective action. The current imposed GMS contract and associated funding is widely seen as inadequate to deliver 21st century general practice.
‘Therefore, practices may (at any time, but particularly during collective action) opt not to sign the contract variation notice. Signing may be seen as acceptance or even endorsement of the deal NHSE has imposed.
‘As always, these imposed GMS contract variations will take effect 14 days from the date they are served on the practice, regardless of whether or not the practice signs.
‘Not signing is a small but potentially useful message back to NHSE, and it will not harm patients or alter your services or funding in any way.
‘We will support any practice who chooses not to participate in “signing” an imposed contract.’
In February, NHS England imposed the 2024/25 contract, which was not agreed with the BMA, and formed part of an intentional ‘ideological dismantling’ of NHS general practice, according to the GPC.
Collective action began on 1 August after GP partners voted in favour of taking action in protest against contractual terms and funding.
After the BMA announced the results of its non-statutory ballot, which saw 98.3% of GP partners voting in favour of taking collective action, NHS England said that ICBs should make sure that practices are continuing to meet contractual requirements during the action.
Pulse exclusively revealed that almost half of England’s GP practices are already taking some form of collective action, with the most popular option being limiting the number of daily patient contacts.
And last week, GP practices were encouraged to share data with the BMA on how they are taking part in collective action every week.
