Almost 17,000 GPs and GP Registrars took part in the BMA's referendum, with 98.9% voting against the plans and calling on the Government to return to negotiation with the BMA's GP committee for England to jointly develop and agree a new contract. 

The BMA says the Government's imposed contract will dramatically increase the workload on already understaffed GP practices by mandating unlimited same-day urgent appointments, unlimited online consultation requests, and new rules restricting hospitals agreeing to GP referrals to specialists will stretch GP services more than ever before.

BMA GPC England chair, Dr Katie Bramall, said: 'This is an unequivocal rejection from GPs across England. The Government cannot ignore the strength of feeling from a profession that is already at breaking point.

'These proposals heap unsafe, unfunded additional workload on to practices, forcing GPs to deliver more with less, putting patient care at risk. Patient groups and GPs alike are united in their concerns around Hospitals rejecting GP referrals to access appropriate specialist care.  When the Government promised a 'shift from hospital to the community' we did not think this would be their own waiting lists.

'Mandating unlimited access without the staff, time, or infrastructure needed to deliver it is not a plan, but a fast-track to collapse GP services, pushing GPs to either walk away due to the moral injury it inflicts, or force them to close their doors due to the pressures placed on them. In some settings it may even tip family doctors to 'do a dentist' and see if they can offer a better, safer service privately.

'GPs simply want to provide the safe care their patients need, but they know they are being set up to fail with this imposed contract, the referendum result speaks for itself.'

The BMA's GP Committee for England is meeting today (26 March) to determine its next steps.