GPs within Pier fully support this collective action, viewing it as a crucial opportunity to unite as a profession to safeguard sustainable NHS GP services for our patients. General practice has been in a critical state for many years, burdened by an ever-increasing workload. Over the years, GPs have seen significant changes, such as the expansion of their responsibilities to include chronic disease management, the shift towards a more complex and aging patient population, and the increased administrative demands associated with digital record-keeping and regulatory compliance. The situation reached a peak during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the unprecedented demand for healthcare led many retired GPs to return to work, providing much-needed support in a time of crisis. This response highlighted both the dedication of GPs and the unsustainable pressures they face.

Wes Streeting, our new Health Secretary, has acknowledged that the NHS is “broken”, with the new Labour government committed to addressing the issues. 

The critical questions remain: what further actions will be taken, and when?

As a responsible opposition, the new government must have been planning for these challenges for months and should be ready to present concrete proposals. Within Pier, we are taking a “wait and see” approach, anticipating no significant changes until early September. If action becomes necessary, our aim will always be to minimize disruption to our patients while applying enough pressure on the system to prompt the government to agree on a new contract that ensures the safety and sustainability of GP practices for contractors, partners, and their patients.

Update on 20/3/25:

At 168 Medical Group, we are supporting the action of “workload transfer”:

• Up until now, when the hospital starts some type of investigation, like a test, we have been reviewing the results on their behalf but without being funded for the work.
• We will now start to send that work back to the hospital, so we are refusing the "workload transfer" to us. 
• We will issue a letter to the hospital and the patient informing them both that it is the hospital’s responsibility to follow up on a task they started.
• Each hospital has a "PALS" (patient liaison) department, which is there for patients to raise concerns with the hospital services.

Please be assured that our practice will remain open, and you should continue to contact us as you normally would. As always, our priority is making sure you have timely access to the right services depending on your health and care needs.

We understand this is a change to the norm and we hope you can support your practice to protect patient care. This is the option with least disruption to your GP services whilst also making a statement of "Collective Action".

Thank you for your understanding.