GPS are being exploited for ‘free’ work, claims new head of union

THE new GP union boss has claimed that family doctors are “exploited” by being asked to perform non-core “extra work”.

Dr Farah Jameel, the newly elected chairman of the BMA’S GP committee for England, compared her profession to builders or lawyers, saying they should not be asked to perform tasks for free.

Insiders at the BMA have claimed that the former leadership was ousted in a putsch by a “militant” faction. The union is threatening industrial action.

It comes after what appeared to be a significant victory over the Government’s efforts to force more face-to-face appointments, after ministers backed down over their plan to force GPS to publish their pay levels.

Writing in GP Online in 2018, Dr Jameel said that being asked to perform “non-core” services “is another example of GPS’ goodwill being exploited and then taken advantage of ”. The article’s subheading read: “You wouldn’t expect a builder to do a job on the side for free, or ask a lawyer to do some extra work without being paid for it. So why should it be any different for GPS.”

Non-core services can include taking certain types of heart recording, spirometry, a lung function test, and removing stitches after operations.

They have traditionally been considered among the general tasks expected of family doctors, but under the current NHS framework they do not trigger a payment from the centre. A previous poll found that more than two-thirds of practices provide the non-core services.

“This is completely unacceptable,” said Dr Jameel, who is a GP in Camden. “General practice is under tremendous pressure as it is, without having to take on activity that is not funded.”

She added that it was “not in a doctor’s nature to refuse to treat patients”.

The past comments attracted criticism, with the Taxpayers’ Alliance saying: “The determination to pull out all the stops to help patients is one of the most admirable things about the NHS, but that is being threatened by BMA bean counting.”

The first woman to be elected chair of the BMA’S General Practice committee for England, Dr Jameel triumphed over one other candidate, Dr Chandra Kanneganti, a Conservative councillor and Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-trent.

Born in the United Arab Emirates, she replaces Dr Richard Vautrey, who was seen as a more conciliatory voice when it came to negotiations with the Government.

The BMA says Dr Vautrey left of his own accord.

‘General practice is under tremendous pressure as it is, without having to take on activity that is not funded’