Overview
- Writing to England’s 50,000 GPs, the health secretary called the BMA “impossible” to deal with and said its recent statements were misleading and unprofessional.
- He ended the union’s longstanding status as sole negotiator and said the 2026/27 contract will be shaped with wider input from the Royal College of GPs, NAPC, Healthwatch England, National Voices and the NHS Confederation.
- The disputed changes require practices to keep online consultation tools available throughout core hours so patients can request help and describe symptoms digitally.
- The BMA has entered a formal dispute and cites a survey of 1,300 practices reporting cuts to face‑to‑face slots, staff redeployment, heavier workloads, higher stress and longer hours.
- Resident doctors are weighing another strike before their mandate expires on 6 January, as NHS England’s Sir Jim Mackey urged an end to walkouts that he says cost about £250m each.