A huge 98 per cent of the 76 per cent turnout of junior doctors voted last week for strike action over changes to their pay and working hours. However, many have said they would prefer to negotiate than take action, but only if the Health Secretary is prepared to meet them.
Concerned about the number of GPs who are leaving the profession or taking early retirement – meaning that the number of trained doctors is at a dangerously low level – the Department of Health (DH) has announced it is considering setting GPs’ pay uplift for the next tax year according to where they practice.
A consultation document released last week suggests that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) could increase its annual fees for GP inspections by more than 550 per cent within two years, meaning a hike of £15,000 for some practices. Continue reading
Recent research has revealed that more than 80 per cent of GPs plan to quit the profession altogether, take a career break or reduce the number of hours they work over the next five years, with only 6 per cent saying they planned to increase their hours. Continue reading