'Left with no option but to put contract changes to a referendum' - GPC chair

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By Sarah Lowden

A referendum is to be held over the 2024/25 GP contract changes, the British Medical Association GPs committee chair has said.

GPC England chair Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer said the "escalating burden" of inflation poses a "severe threat" to general practice, yet the government has offered "no viable solution".

She said there is widespread concern over the future of the profession, stating that current staff spending is "significantly outpacing" the uplift granted in 2023/24.

"Worryingly, two in every three practices that responded to our England practice finance survey have expressed a lack of confidence in the short- and long-term viability of their services," she added.

"Even with record-high patient demand, the same proportion have been forced to stop recruitment and replacement of staff due to inadequate funding.

"This paradoxical situation has created an illogical scenario where patients in dire need of GP care are unable to access it, while skilled and eager GPs find themselves jobless because practices lack the necessary funding to employ them.