Since May, following an overwhelming rejection of the imposed 2026/27 GP contract by BMA members, the BMA has been asking practices to take action to highlight the unprecedented pressures facing general practice and the urgent need for meaningful investment and reform. The message to the Government being that general practice must be placed on a sustainable footing if it is to continue delivering high-quality care for patients.
The collective action campaign enters a new phase during August, with an increased focus on engaging and informing patients. While most patients experience excellent care, it is important that they are sighted on the challenges practices face every day, from rising demand and workforce pressures to increasing workload and constrained resources. Collective action is not about limiting patient care; it is about protecting the future of general practice and ensuring patients can continue to access safe, high-quality services in the years ahead.
The BMA is asking practices to make use of the new patient-facing campaign materials being made available, including posters, digital resources and multilingual leaflets, to help explain why change is needed and how patients can support their local GP practice. They are also encouraging practices to promote the national patient petition and direct patients to the available information resources, helping to build wider public understanding of the issues affecting primary care.
Participation in collective action remains a decision for each individual practice and at a local level, we would encourage practices to continue to push back on any un-resourced workload and let us, your LMC, know of any areas of concern so that we can support you in negotiating a fair allocation of funding, so that resource follows activity.
We sincerely hope that with a new prime minister and health secretary our newly elected BMA GPCE executive team can make positive progress in negotiations with the Government for the investment and contractual changes general practice urgently needs.
Update from Dr Manu Agrawal, GPC England Deputy Chair.
GPCE collective action continues in August. Alongside the existing actions, GPCE are now asking practices to help bring patients on board by explaining the pressures facing general practice, why change is needed and how they can support their local GP practice.
We’re sending practices a set of posters by post, along with a range of digital materials that you can download and share, including leaflets that you’ll be able to order in a range of different languages. These resources are designed to help patients understand that GPs want the same things they do: safe and sustainable general practice that delivers high-quality care for everyone. Practices should receive these materials late next week or early the following one.
GPCE have launched a major new public petition to show support for general practice and call on the Government to act. Please sign it today and encourage your patients to add their voices too.
In addition, we would encourage practices to write to your MP using this online tool and explain directly the pressures your practice is facing. Hearing directly from GPs will help MPs understand the impact of continued underfunding on practices and patient care and strengthen our case in negotiations with the Government for the investment and contractual changes general practice urgently needs.
Collective action is not stopping. The GPC England officer team is exploring options of escalation of collective action in the coming months.
Taking part in this and any future collective actions will help keep your practice safe. These actions are lawful, straightforward to implement and do not breach your contract. The new Government and health minister have an opportunity to reset relations with the profession, and the door remains open to meaningful negotiations. However, we will continue to press for the changes general practice needs if our concerns are not addressed.
Read more about taking collective action and access resources on taking part in collective action
