Responding to Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s letter to general practitioners and wider profession, BMA GPs committee chair Katie Bramall said: “I want to thank the Health Secretary for recognising the hard work of GPs and practice staff. A near-record 40 million patients used NHS GP services in October. We warned this would happen – current pressures faced by practices are unsafe, unsustainable, and need to be addressed. We’re worried that the Government doesn’t understand that safe, meaningful patient care can be delivered only when practices are supported and resourced. 34p per patient per day for essential healthcare services – less than the price of an apple – was already inadequate resourcing, and the online access policy change further exacerbates this.

“When GPs entered dispute with the Government on 1 October 2025, it was underpinned by the very real and present dangers of practices being overwhelmed by unlimited online queries. As the HSSIB (Health Services Safety Investigations Body) have said today in relation to electronic patient records, we must be wary that ‘systems which are poorly implemented, difficult to use, or do not meet the needs of staff and organisations can introduce avoidable patient safety risks, which can contribute to serious harm. Over 1,000 practices, caring for over 14 million patients, responded to our online access survey: 42% of those practices told us they’ve had to cut face-to-face appointments to deal with the volume of online queries. Fewer appointments and practice meltdown isn’t a win for patients or the profession.  

“This is not about point scoring. It’s about the risk to patient safety. We have repeatedly sought to work with the Government all year to make their aspirations a safe success but, in recent weeks, attempts have been thwarted by incessant media briefings and nameless sources engaging in what I can only call relentless attacks on the integrity of the profession. However, we stand ready to put things right, as is our duty to the staff and patients we represent, to ensure care is safe for patients and practice staff to move forward constructively.”

BMA council chair Tom Dolphin said: “We would have much preferred the Health Secretary to contact the BMA privately and directly to seek de-escalation, rather than via the media. Governments do not get to decide their negotiating partners, and nor should they – we continue to call on Wes Streeting to get round the table and take a sound and solid approach to negotiating with the democratically elected representatives of England’s GP profession. There are clearly difficult and uncomfortable conversations to be had, and we may often disagree, but both parties ultimately want the same goal: clinically safe environments to meet patient need, and a workforce that feels safe and supported.

“We share so many of the Government’s ambitions for general practice: bringing back the family doctor, prioritising continuity of care, and securing best value for money. If the Government is struggling to achieve these, then that is even greater reason to work with us to secure positive change."

Notes to editors

• The letter can be found here. 
• DHSC’s own 29th September public factsheet confirms patients shouldn’t be able to submit urgent requests, as this policy change was only ever meant to include non-urgent online requests or queries. 
• HSSIB: Ongoing risk of harm linked to electronic patient record systems.

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.