NextFin news, GPs in England have threatened to take industrial action starting Wednesday, October 1, 2025, in response to new NHS rules that extend online appointment booking hours to 8am-6:30pm weekdays. The British Medical Association (BMA) claims the changes will create a "triage tsunami" of patient requests, overwhelming general practitioners and risking patient safety.
The new system, agreed in February between the BMA, NHS England, and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), allows patients to request GP appointments online throughout the day, aiming to end the traditional "8am scramble" for appointments. However, the BMA says ministers have failed to implement promised safeguards to ensure only non-urgent consultations are booked online.
Dr Katie Bramall, chair of the BMA's GPs committee, warned on Tuesday that the system "will likely lead to the creation of hospital-style waiting lists in general practice" and reduce face-to-face consultations as doctors are diverted to managing the increased volume of online requests.
The BMA has given the DHSC 48 hours to introduce safety measures before the system's rollout. Without these, the union may ballot GPs for industrial action, including limiting patient appointments. Some GPs have already taken such steps earlier this year over contract disputes.
The BMA highlighted that current online systems cannot differentiate between urgent and non-urgent queries, raising concerns that serious conditions could be missed or delayed. They stressed that with existing staff shortages, doctors will be forced to reallocate time from booked appointments to handle the surge in online triage.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting dismissed the BMA's concerns, affirming the changes will proceed as planned. The DHSC stated the move fulfills a manifesto promise to provide patients with more convenient digital access to GP services beyond the morning rush, while still allowing phone and in-person contact.
Some of England's 6,400 GP practices already use similar online booking systems, which the DHSC says have improved workflow and patient service. The Patients Association emphasized that patients prioritize fast access to care regardless of booking method and called for swift, safe assessment of appointment requests.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between GPs and the government over workload, patient safety, and the future of NHS primary care delivery in England.
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