We're calling on GP partners/contractors to take collective action now.
GP partners/contractors in England have voted overwhelmingly in favour of collective action. Seven in ten eligible members voted in the non-statutory ballot with 98.3% of members voting yes.
The BMA now urges GP partners/contractors to start taking at least one of the easy, safe and sustainable actions proposed below.
Collective action will turn up the pressure on the Government to do the right thing for general practice and patients. We need a new contract that is fit for purpose.
BMA update on Learning Disability and Autism Training
Below is the 2023 and updated 2025 BMA position regarding Oliver McGowan training.
All GP practices in England must ensure their staff receive training in learning disability and autism, including how to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability and autistic people. This requirement was introduced by the Health and Care Act 2022 in July 2022. The Government's preferred training programme is the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism. However, the Act does not specify a training package or course for staff.
Cheshire and Mersey ICB have been provided with funding from NHSE to support practices with the Oliver McGowan Training. Practices should have received information on this training offer from the ICB. If practices decide to take up this offer it is important to be aware of the different tiers that apply to staff groups.
BMA position on 30/11/23 regarding Oliver McGowan training was:
The DHSC consultation into the implementation of the ‘Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training’ has now closed and we are awaiting the recommendations. GPC England has responded, expressing a number of concerns regarding the impact this programme may have on General Practice.
In the interim you should note that there is a legal requirement within the Health and Social Care Act 2022 for GP practice staff to receive training in Autism and Learning Disability. However, whilst the title of the programme includes the word mandatory, this does not mean that any single particular training programme is required. It is for the time being, the DHSC and NHS England recommended programme, so should practices undertake this programme, CQC and ICB teams will accept this.
It is unlikely, at least in the short term, that practices will find it easy to identify alternatives, especially for Tier 2 training, which needs to be delivered by specified trainers including one person with Learning Disability/Autism. If practices do undertake alternative Tier 1 training, it is recommended they ask the training provider for written assurances of the equivalency of their training programme to the Tier 1 Oliver McGowan training (which can be delivered remotely). CQC is waiting to receive clarification in relation to the accreditation of alternative training packages.
Tier 2 training currently involves a full day’s face-to-face training: given the numbers of eligible participants, undertaking such training will cause a significant interruption in service capacity. Ideally Tier 2 training should be delivered over one day only, within six months of receiving Tier 1 training. This creates a difficulty for practices as at present it is unlikely local dates have been set for Tier 2 training and this may not be realistic to do until the outcome of the Consultation is known.
GPC England recommends that the training should be coordinated by local ICB teams working with Training Hubs, once the outcome of the Consultation have been published. CQC’s advice to practices about this type of training is available here.
BMA update on 11/2/25 regarding CQC requirements and Oliver McGown training:
The position regarding Oliver McGowan training does not appear to have changed since 1 July 2022, since when all registered health and social care providers have been required to provide training for their staff in learning disability and autism, including how to interact appropriately with autistic people and people who have a learning disability.
The CQC website does not specify a particular training package. Their updated guidance on the requirement states:
You must ensure that all staff receive training in how to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability and autistic people, at a level appropriate to their role.
Staff must receive appropriate supervision in their role to ensure they demonstrate and maintain competence in understanding the needs of people with a learning disability and autistic people, including knowing how to support them in the best way.
It also states that the CQC does not tell practices specifically how to meet their legal requirements in relation to training. Practices are responsible for ensuring staff are appropriately trained to meet the requirements of the regulations.
GPC update: Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of GPC UK
At the end of February, we announced a significant enhancement to maternity leave benefits for salaried GPs, following a recent unanimous vote by GPC UK. The number of weeks at half pay for maternity leave will increase from 14 weeks to 18 weeks. This change aligns maternity leave provisions with those of hospital doctors and ensures salaried GPs are no longer at a detriment to their hospital-based colleagues.
Improvements to salaried GP maternity pay
We have produced guidance, resources and template letters to aid the implementation of this change. The new maternity leave benefits are as follows:
8 weeks of full pay, less any SMP (statutory maternity pay) or MA (maternity allowance) receivable, including any dependants allowances.
18 weeks of half pay, rather than 14 weeks, plus any SMP or MA receivable, ensuring the total does not exceed full pay.
13 weeks at SMP or MA, as entitled under the statutory scheme.
This change was made possible thanks to the unity and collective resolve of our profession.
By implementing this new maternity leave pay change, we're not just helping individuals, but also strengthening our profession. These enhanced benefits reflect our commitment to supporting salaried GPs throughout their working lives.
Next Steps: We recommend all practices discuss these changes with their salaried GPs. Following which, we recommend that a contract variation letter is issued to each salaried GP to reflect these changes. Further information and the relevant contract variation letters can be found on our website.
For this decision, to take effect, it is dependent on practices issuing contract variation letters to their salaried GPs. Therefore, as GPC representatives, we all need to engage with our constituents, either directly or via LMCs, to explain the change, and encourage them to issue these letters.
If you have any questions, please get in touch via info.gpc@bma.org.uk.
Best regards,
Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of GPC UK
Dr Mark Steggles, chair of Sessional GPs Committee
BMA Guidance on physician associates
In response to member queries regarding the future management of physician associates (PAs) within their practices, please note the additional guidance below:
GP practices are entitled to follow BMA Guidance and RCGP guidance on employing PAs. However, it is for individual practices to decide whether to follow the guidance, and if they do decide to follow it, what steps to take to implement any changes.
A GP practice may decide to restructure how they deliver their services in order to follow the guidance. If such a restructure results in duties being removed from one or more PA in the practice, this could result in a redundancy situation arising, i.e. where there is a reduced requirement for physician associates to carry out work of a particular kind.
As a GP partner, and BMA member, if redundancy is an option your practice is considering, or you have questions regarding how to manage the employment relationship with your physician associate, please contact the BMA Employer Advisory Service at the earliest opportunity.
RCGP clarifies new exam attempts policy
In August 2024, the BMA won a ‘landmark’ legal judgement, supporting a trainee GP who believed they had been unfairly treated due to the way the RCGP applied its policy on the number of attempts at taking an exam. The judge found that it was irrational for the College to refuse to consider further attempts or nullification in the event that a candidate reports a late diagnosis that would have justified reasonable adjustments, quashing the policy both prospectively and retrospectively.
The RCGP has now confirmed their replacement policy, which applies to both the AKT and the SCA:
Where after an unsuccessful attempt a candidate receives a diagnosis of a disability of which they were previously unaware, the RCGP may void any previous attempts which they took while having that disability without the appropriate reasonable adjustments. The candidate would still have the same upper limit of maximum attempts as they were entitled to when they entered training for the first time. Applications for previous attempts to be voided are subject to all other applicable MRCGP Regulations and Policies, including rules on eligibility and timeframes.
The RCGP’s website includes FAQs on the new policy and registrars who believe they may be eligible for additional attempts should complete this form.
GPC Update: Sessional GP Maternity leave Guidance
We are thrilled to announce a significant enhancement to maternity leave benefits for salaried GPs, following a recent unanimous vote by GPC UK. The number of weeks at half pay for maternity leave will increase from 14 weeks to 18 weeks. This change aligns maternity leave provisions with those of hospital doctors and ensures salaried GPs are no longer at a detriment to their hospital-based colleagues.
We have produced guidance, resources and template letters to aid the implementation of this change. The new maternity leave benefits are as follows:
· 8 weeks of full pay, less any SMP (statutory maternity pay) or MA (maternity allowance) receivable, including any dependants’ allowances.
· 18 weeks of half pay, rather than 14 weeks, plus any SMP or MA receivable, ensuring the total does not exceed full pay.
13 weeks at SMP or MA, as entitled under the statutory scheme.
This change was made possible thanks to the unity and collective resolve of our profession.
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