The NHS winter crisis and the Prime Minister’s run-in with GPs
The NHS winter crisis and the Prime Minister’s run-in with GPs
The weekend of 14 January saw general practice and Theresa May come to blows over claims about the impact of GP opening hours on accident and emergency attendances. This story broke as the Government sought to quell reports of a ‘humanitarian crisis’ in the NHS and tensions between NHS England’s Chief Executive and Number 10 Downing Street. We have produced a timeline of recent events for those who would like a reminder of who said what and when:
Friday 6 January
The Red Cross reports that the NHS faces a humanitarian crisis, citing among other indicators the fact that two patients died on trolleys in Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Sunday 8 January
Theresa May gives a keynote interview to Sky News, downplaying the crisis and reiterating her claim that the NHS has had more money than it asked for (see 11:30 into this clip).
Monday 9 January
Jeremy Hunt makes a statement to the House of Commons on mental health and NHS performance, citing “unprecedented demand” and listing the Government’s measures for handling the crisis, including “temporarily releasing time for GPs to support urgent care work”.
Wednesday 11 January, 05:00
The Times carries a front-page story reporting a rift between Number 10 Downing Street and Sir Simon Stevens, the Chief Executive of NHS England, citing sources who say Stevens “lacks enthusiasm”.
Wednesday 11 January, 12:00
At Prime Minister’s Questions Theresa May continues attributing the NHS’s problems to factors other than money, saying: “There are always extra pressures on the NHS during the winter but, of course, we have at the moment those added pressures of the ageing population and the growing complex needs of the population.”
Wednesday 11 January, 16:00
Later that afternoon Simon Stevens appears before Parliament’s Public Accounts Select Committee, saying that claiming the NHS is getting more money than it asked for is “stretching it” and uses an analogy comparing the complexity of the NHS to the simplicity of the criminal justice system (Theresa May’s previous ministerial brief was at the Home Office).
Thursday 12 January
Simon Steven’s remarks lead many newspaper front pages and news bulletins, the crisis of demand on NHS services continues.
Saturday 14 January
Number 10 briefs journalists that the lack of GPs providing extended opening hours is causing patients to go to A&E because they cannot get GP appointments at a convenient time. They say that the Government will cut funding to GPs who are not providing extended access. This is the lead item on several Saturday newspaper front pages.
Sunday 15 January
GPs and opposition politicians take to traditional and social media to rebut the Government’s claims, many GPs voice their upset at being scapegoated by the Prime Minister:
- Jeremy Corbyn, the Leader of the Opposition, cites a recent visit to a GP surgery in his constituency on the Andrew Marr show (see 45:25 into this clip). This visit was arranged by Londonwide LMCs as part of our work to raise London MPs’ awareness of the challenges general practice faces.
- Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the RCGP appears on ITV’s Peston on Sunday to defend the profession (see 17:30 into this clip, free registration required)
- Dr Sarah Wollaston, Chair of the Health Select Committee and a former GP, appears on Sky New’s Sophy Ridge show, saying GPs are working very hard and disputing Theresa May’s claim that the NHS has had more money than it asked for.
- Dr Chaand Nagpaul, Chair of the BMA’s GPC, appears on BBC News saying “GPs already work 24/7, 365 days a year”.
Monday 16 January
Dr Stokes-Lampard and Dr Wollaston’s comments are widely reported. Through the start of the week GPs and the medical professional continues to express their anger at the Government’s remarks and contest the factual basis of them, including:
- Dr Michelle Drage, Chief Executive of Londonwide LMCs
- Cumbria LMC
- Dr Mark Porter, Chair of the BMA
- Dr Zoe Norris, Chair of the GPC Sessional Subcommittee, BMA
Wednesday 18 January
The Department of Health says that they do not hold records on A&E attendances resulting from people not being able to get a timely GP appointment, in response to a written question by an opposition MP.
Last updated : 26 Jan 2017
Londonwide Enterprise update (17 Aug 2016)
Practice managers conference and events Speakers have been confirmed for the Practice Manager Conference to be held at Woburn House on Thursday 22 September 2016. ‘Leadership through Change: making the...Patient engagement survey (17 Aug 2016)
We are asking for practices to share their experience of successfully developing their patient engagement work, including top tips, by completing our patient engagement surveys. These will help shape the...London Improvement Grant Fund 2017-18 (17 Aug 2016)
The London Improvement Grant Fund application process is now open. Practices need to submit their applications by 17:00 on Friday 30 September 2016 by emailing them to: England.LondonIGfund@nhs.net. Practices should...NHS England Update on Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (ETTF) (17 Aug 2016)
Unfortunately, information regarding submission dates for reimbursement claims for NHS England’s Estates and Technology Transformation Fund (ETTF) has caused some confusion. Please note that the submission date change is not related...New GPSoE Resources - Posters (16 Aug 2016)
We have produced two posters to help practices explain to patients and staff why we are in a state of emergency. One is for your waiting room and outlines the...Capita list cleanse plan (16 Aug 2016)
At the end of July it was reported that part of the new Primary Care Support Services contract between NHS England and Capita would include a list cleanse programme, designed...New requirements for hospitals re work with general practice (16 Aug 2016)
Londonwide LMCs’ CEO Dr Michelle Drage has written to Trust and Foundation Trust CEOs across London asking how they plan to implement the new requirements outlined in the 2016/17 NHS...General Practice Resilience Programme funding (16 Aug 2016)
£2.65m of resilience funding is available to London practices this financial year, as the Capital’s share of a £16m national pot, promised as part of the GP Forward View. This...TPP QRISK2 error – responsibility for practices (16 Aug 2016)
NHS England is concerned that only around half of practices affected by the TPP QRISK2 error have accessed the lists of affected patients provided to them. Dr Andrew Green,...Feedback on Capita Primary Care Support England services (16 Aug 2016)
Following concerns expressed about the current Capita/Primary Care Support England (PCSE) records and supplies services, the BMA recently sought feedback on practices’ experience of Capita’s service. Dan Hodgson in the...Guidance
We provide expert guidance for practices in our guidance section, as well as an archive of other materials you may find useful.
GP Support
Contact our GP Support team if you need help or advice.
The team provide professional and pastoral support to GPs and practice teams on a broad range of issues.