News in Brief

NEARLY 3,000 GPs TAKE COLLEGE E-ACTION

Kipper Williams

The College joined forces with more than 100 health organisations, including all medical royal colleges, two former NHS Chief Executives and a former Health Secretary to back an amendment to the Health and Care Bill that would force the Government to publish regular independent projections of how many doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are needed in the NHS.

Nearly 3,000 GPs took our campaign action to write to their MP, urging them to back the motion – and Martin Marshall was interviewed for the FT and wrote OpEds in the Independent and New Statesman outlining why it was so important.

Despite the widespread support, the Government repeatedly tabled motions to reject the amendment, which was put forward in two iterations by the House of Lords, and the Health and Care Bill received Royal Assent, making it the Health and Care Act 2022 and therefore legislation.

Martin Marshall called the decision ‘shameful’. He said: “One reason general practice, and the wider NHS, is working under so much pressure is a historic lack of workforce planning. This was an opportunity for the Government to address this and their decision not to was shameful. We need thousands more doctors and nurses across the NHS, and we need a comprehensive plan as to how to achieve that. The College won’t stop making that case – the care we’re able to deliver to patients depends on it.” •

MAKING THE CASE FOR GENERAL PRACTICE

An OpEd by Martin Marshall made the front page of the Daily Express earlier this month. It followed comment pieces published by the New Statesman, the Independent, Hacked Off and politics. co.uk., all highlighting the unsustainable pressures facing GPs and their teams, the impact this is having on patients, and what needs to be done about it.

Since the beginning of the year, the RCGP has featured in the media more than 3,000 times, more than 250 in national outlets, including multiple appearances on Radio 4's Today Programme, World at One and Newsnight. There have also been proactive stories in the FT and Guardian, and letters to the editor published in The Times, the Telegraph and Guardian.

This piece in the Express also featured Vice Chair Gary Howsam and GP Nick Brown explaining how great a career in general practice can be, but that the profession needs support. The Express editorial said: “Losing yet more burnt out GPs from the profession can only make a dire situation worse. This health emergency needs to be sorted out – and quickly – because GPs are suffering, and patients too.” •

THE COLLEGE SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIES FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS

The College lobbied MPs to amend the Health and Care Bill to make telemedical abortion permanent. In March, MPs voted in a free vote to retain the policy so women requiring early medical abortion can now continue to choose how and where they receive such care.

At the start of the pandemic, the Government removed the requirement for women to attend a clinic in person, allowing appointments to occur remotely. Despite evidence of telemedical appointments being safe and women being positive about the experience, as restrictions were lifted, Government originally said appointments would have to revert to face-to-face.

The College welcomes this win for women’s rights. •