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
Superfast broadband vouchers worth up to £3000 are available. (11 Sep 2015)
The government’s superfast broadband connection vouchers are still available to small and medium sized businesses in 22 super connected cities across the UK. London is one of the 22 super...Don’t let your NMC registration lapse – important information for nurses and practice managers. (11 Sep 2015)
From November 2015 anyone who allows their registration to lapse will need to make an application for readmission to regain access to the registrar. This could take between two...Updated Subject Access Requests (SARs) guidance from the BMA (11 Sep 2015)
The BMA has issued guidance Focus on’ guidance on Subject Access Requests (SARs) for insurance purposes. The guidance has been updated following the Information Commissioner’s Office input and includes...Training and development events for GPs and practice staff (11 Sep 2015)
Reflective Practice Masterclass (10 October 2015, 13 November 2015 and 4 December 2015) – Each master class helps individuals to identify both the organisational and psychological barriers to change and...Increased savings on magazine subscription packages with DLT Magazines (11 Sep 2015)
DLT are the UK’s leading supplier of magazine subscription packages to businesses. Offering permanent discounts of up to 70% off cover prices and a range of over 150 leading titles,...Egg-free flu vaccine Optaflu now available (11 Sep 2015)
MASTA, one of the Buying Group’s approved flu vaccine suppliers for the 2015-16 season, is now carrying stocks of the egg-free flu vaccine Optaflu. This can be delivered out with...Retired Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators update (11 Sep 2015)
Following concerns highlighted by practices in relation to the request from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) to extract data related to retired QOF indicators, the BMA’s General...Friends and Family Test - act now to avoid a breach notice (11 Sep 2015)
We are aware that there may be some confusion about the data required for the Friends and Family Test (FFT). NHS England data on the monthly returns show that many...Warning for practices over PBX phone systems (11 Sep 2015)
There are reports that some businesses have recently been victims of PBX (Private Branch Exchanges) fraud where a hacker accessed their phone lines and made premium rate calls at a...Speakers' Corner - Undergraduate teaching in General Practice. Your medical school needs you! (09 Sep 2015)
This month Joe Rosenthal, Senior Lecturer in General Practice & Sub-Dean for Community Based Teaching at UCL Medical School, gives us his view of undergraduate teaching in general practice....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.
follow us on...
