An ECG readout courtesy of: Ptrump16, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
You may, or may not have heard that GPs in our area are embarking on a 'collective action' in the New Year. Below is a copy of the official letter sent out by the group of practices involved in our local Primary Care Network.
The action will involve some routine services being referred elsewhere, instead of being done at your local GP practice. (The practice staff have information on how your needs will be met.)This action is being taken because, whilst the tests/ procedures etcetera will be paid for by the NHS if they are done in say a hospital; if the GP does the test, the practice will NOT BE PAID for these procedures by the NHS. This is plainly unfair (and has been going on for a considerable length of time), and considering the increasing pressures put on to GP practices (both professionally and financially), should not be allowed to continue.
This DOES NOT AFFECT you receiving any tests which your GP considers clinically necessary when you present as a patient with signs or symptoms that need investigation. These will be carried out as normal, in practice (if appropriate), as required.
As a Patient Participation Group, our remit is to ensure that good communication exists between the practice and its patients. However, there has to be a GP practice extant for that to take place, and it is a fact of life that some GP practices around the country, have been forced to close because the current GP NHS funding is increasingly inadequate to maintain services as required by the GP NHS contract. The proposed rise in National Insurance contributions paid by employers is just another financial burden that will exacerbate their current problems.
Fortunately DVMP is managing at the moment, but it is incumbent upon us to support the practice - we need our GP practices - I'm sure none of us would argue with that! So please be as supportive and understanding as you can.
GP Collective Action
20th December 2024
Dear Patients,
We are writing to inform you about important changes to the services at your GP practice, as part of necessary Collective Action by General Practice. This action involves all four local practices: Dr Murray and Partners, Hoad Medical Practice, Market Street Medical Practice, and Duddon Valley Medical Practice, and aims to address critical issues we face.
What is Collective Action?
Essentially Collective Action is:
- Referring work that we are not funded to do to other services
- Ensuring that the workload is at a safe level for both patients and staff
Why Collective Action is Needed:
We are concerned about:
- Patient Safety: We feel that it is essential that increasing workload does not affect the high quality of care we want to continue to provide our patients.
- Workforce: High workloads are causing burnout and making it hard to recruit and retain staff.
- Funding: General practice is underfunded, receiving just 6% of the NHS budget, which is not enough to meet ever growing demand.
This Collective Action is not about GPs striking or pay, but about advocating for more investment in primary care to ensure we can continue to provide safe, high-quality care for all our patients.
What This Means for You:
Starting 1st January 2025, some tasks, which we are not funded to deliver, will be referred to other organisations. We will be unable to provide the following tasks:
• Insulin initiation
• ECGs
• PSA monitoring for hospital consultants
• MGUS monitoring for hospital consultants
• Consultant-requested blood tests, spirometry, and other tests
• Vaginal ring pessaries
Additionally, we will be unable to provide wound dressings and prostate cancer injections from 1st April 2025 unless a fair agreement is reached.
Our practice will remain open. We will continue to prioritise your health and wellbeing in everything we do. We remain committed to providing high quality, patient focussed care. However, we can no longer absorb unfunded work from other sectors, especially with rising costs. We have raised these issues with NHS England, Morecambe Bay Hospital Trust, and our local MP, but we have not yet reached an agreement.
How You Can Help:
- Be kind to our staff – they are doing their best to help you.
- Spread the word and explain why these changes are happening.
- Support your GP in challenging negative perceptions.
- Contact the ICB and your MP to raise your concerns about the underfunding of your General Practice.
- Integrated Care Board (ICB): lscicb-bl.healthierlsc.scnlbprimary@nhs.net
- Michelle Scrogham MP: michelle.scrogham.mp@parliament.uk
General practice is struggling. Together, we can make a change. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Murray and Partners
Hoad Medical Practice
Market Street Medical Practice
Duddon Valley Medical Practice
