Why GPs Must Stand Firm on the Contract Dispute
From 1 October, GPs in England will once again be in formal dispute with the Government. For some, this may sound like yet another contractual argument, but to those of us working on the frontline, it represents something far more fundamental: the right to deliver care that is safe, sustainable, and properly resourced.
The Breaking Point
General practice has been stretched to its limits for years. We are delivering record numbers of appointments—millions more than pre-pandemic—with fewer doctors, growing patient lists, and mounting complexity. Every GP knows the daily grind of trying to do more with less, while still giving each patient the attention they deserve.
Now, with the latest imposed contract, the Government wants us to take on 24/7 online access and new digital obligations—without proper safeguards or funding. On paper, this looks like progress. In reality, it risks pushing already fragile practices over the edge.
The Real Issue Isn’t Access—It’s Safety
Let’s be clear: GPs are not against improving patient access. We want patients to be seen quickly and fairly. But access without safety is dangerous. A flood of online requests at all hours, with no triage protection or capacity planning, risks burying urgent cases under a mountain of routine queries.
We know what happens when systems are overloaded: mistakes creep in, continuity of care is lost, and patient outcomes suffer. This is not scaremongering—it is lived experience from every GP practice that has tried to absorb endless demand without boundaries.
A Matter of Respect
This dispute is also about professional respect. Contracts have been imposed rather than negotiated, with little acknowledgement of the pressures we face or the realities of our working day. The message seems to be: “Just get on with it.”
But goodwill has limits. For too long, GPs have propped up the system by stretching themselves thin. Burnout, early retirement, and workforce attrition are the predictable results. If nothing changes, the very model of UK general practice is at risk.
Why Action Is Necessary
Industrial action is not something any GP takes lightly. We entered this profession to care, not to campaign. But sometimes standing still is more harmful than standing up. This action is about drawing a line in the sand:
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We will not accept unsafe workloads.
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We will not deliver reforms that risk patient harm.
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We will not allow the profession to be undermined by contracts written without our input.
This isn’t about shutting doors or abandoning patients—it’s about saying enough is enough.
Looking Ahead
If the Government is serious about improving access, it must invest properly in general practice, reinstate safety protections, and work with GPs, not against us. Until then, standing firm is the only responsible option—for our patients, our colleagues, and the future of primary care.
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