Northern Ireland GPs Begin Industrial Action Over Contract Dispute.

GPs in Northern Ireland are set to go on strike, rejecting the government's contract offer and demanding increased funding for primary care, insurance, and a tax offset. The minister has refused to budge, despite the union's overwhelming vote to reject the contract and approve action short of a strike. The dispute mirrors a recent one in England, where GPs also rejected their contract and voted for industrial action. The strike is likely to disrupt tests and treatments coordinated between GPs and hospitals.

General practitioners (GPs) in Northern Ireland are preparing to take industrial action following the rejection of the government's contract offer. The dispute, which mirrors a recent one in England, has the potential to disrupt tests and treatments coordinated between GPs and hospitals. The British Medical Association (BMA), representing the GPs, has overwhelmingly voted to reject the contract and approve action short of a strike [1].

The BMA's demands include increased funding for primary care, liability insurance, and a tax offset. However, the minister, Mike Nesbitt, has refused to budge, stating that the offered contract meets the first two demands and that a 20% increase in funding is impossible. Nesbitt has linked contract negotiations to the poor service he alleges GPs are providing, particularly through restrictive telephone booking systems [1].

The BMA has proposed collective actions, including limiting daily patient consultations, serving notice on voluntary activities, and ceasing completion of unfunded paperwork. These actions are likely to disrupt services, as they may lead to fewer appointments and a worse service overall. The Department of Health has acknowledged the outcome of the ballot but stressed that any action must respect contractual obligations and maintain service access [2].

The dispute is a significant challenge for the Northern Ireland healthcare system. If GPs hand back their contracts and shut down, options to move into the private sector or take on private patients are limited. The annual nature of contracts means Nesbitt only has to sit tight for a few more months to win the dispute by default. However, if more practices start exploring their private options, this could be the beginning of the end for free universal primary healthcare in Northern Ireland [1].

References:
[1] https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025/07/10/a-gps-strike-in-the-north-could-be-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-free-primary-healthcare/
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrl0q3geqyo