GPs across NI to reduce ‘unfunded' work as part of dispute over finances
At the time, Mr Nesbitt said the package, which included £9.5m in additional funding, was 'at the absolute limit of what is achievable this year'.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said the action will continue 'until they receive an improved financial offer'.
The move follows a consultation with GPs and will see measures designed to 'reduce the unfunded work they carry out' implemented.
The union said that GPs are facing 'unprecedented challenges, including severe underfunding, staff shortages, and overwhelming workloads'.
A spokesperson for the BMA added: "These issues have been exacerbated by a refusal of the Department to provide appropriate funding; as part of this year's negotiation, NIGPC asked for an additional £39 per patient to address current pressures, the Department allocated less than 50p per patient, a fraction of what is required.'
Measures being implemented by doctors will include limiting patient consultations to the UEMO — the group representing GPs across Europe — recommended maximum of 25 per day.
The BMA said notice will be served on voluntary activity and doctors will insist on specialist referrals 'when clinically appropriate' in a bid to improve 'the balance of work'.
Doctors say they will also stop 'completing unfunded paperwork requests including patient registration paperwork verification' and will switch off medical optimisation software by instead using their clinical judgement when prescribing.
The union added that doctors are 'committed to minimising the impact on patients and ensuring that the highest standards of care continue to be maintained'.
The Chair of the NI General Practitioners Committee (NIGPC), Dr Frances O'Hagan, said the decision 'has not been made lightly'.
'It is a last resort to draw attention to the critical needs of the general practice and to advocate for immediate funding and sustainable solutions,' added Dr O'Hagan.
'We have taken comprehensive legal advice and are making every effort to ensure that patient care remains as unaffected as possible during collective action.
"Patients are not the focus of our dispute; it is the Department's approach that is forcing us into action.'
Dr O'Hagan added that the move is a "clear call for the Health Minister to recognise the severity of the situation and to take immediate and decisive action'.
'We need to reopen the negotiation for this year, and the Minister allocate additional resources immediately to stabilise general practice and to engage in constructive discussions for sustainable, long-term improvements,' she continued.
'Only when he has done that can we begin to talk about next year and how GPs can work with the rest of the system to move more care into the community. We need immediate action to stabilise services before we can plan for long-term changes and improvements.'
Dr O'Hagan added: 'Our patients don't deserve the funding they are being offered. Current funding levels are insufficient to meet patient needs, and increased investment is required to maintain safe, high-quality care.
'Patients deserve and need a properly funding service that is sustainable and retains quality of patient care. It is vital that immediate, targeted action is taken to address current funding gaps and resource challenges in general practice.'
The Royal College of General Practitioners said the result of the NIGPC ballot shows the strength of feeling amongst GPs across Northern Ireland.
"It is clear the current contract is failing to provide GPs and their patients with the support that they need, and more resources are urgently required to tackle this,' RCGPNI chair Ursula Mason added.
Ms Mason added that it is not the role of the RCGPNI to intervene in contract talks, but said it was disappointing that negotiations did not resume, leading to the 'unprecedented' move by doctors.
'Absolutely no GP will want to restrict the services they provide for their patients — and it needs to be made clear that GPs and their teams will still be working extremely hard to care for our patients,' said Ms Mason.
"There are many aspects of what GPs provide that go well beyond the contractual requirements they are under and what they receive funding for, and this additional workload and the goodwill of the GPs delivering it, have been taken for granted for too long.
'We have written to the Minister for Health today to press him to intervene and come to a resolution that is fit for purpose for patients and the GP teams working harder and harder to provide the quality care our patients deserve.'
The Department of Health has been contacted.
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