After extensive work, the BMA have published guidance on the firearms licensing process, setting out the BMA position on firearms licensing and providing information to GPs on what to do when someone applies for a firearms licence, including responding to the police and conscientious objection. 

Inappropriate workload shift to General practice by other Providers is not new, it is a long-standing issue which has grown over decades to become ingrained into everyday practice. 

The practices we serve across Salford and Trafford have reported a significant increase of workload shift over the last 12 months exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, due to services being paused, with variable rates of services’ reinstatement between Providers, as well as through the introduction of new systems by Providers to ‘build back better’, resulting in a further shift of work inappropriately to General Practice, perhaps unwittingly.  

Released by the BMA Thursday 21st October 

'The BMA’s England GP committee, which represents grassroots GPs in England, has formally rejected the package of measures recently heralded by the Health Secretary as the answer to the crisis facing general practice.

At a meeting earlier today, there was unanimous support from committee members to reject the plan published last week, which fundamentally failed to address the ongoing crisis in general practice, and for GPs to not engage in its implementation.

In addition, the committee has called on practices to disengage with wider requirements and demands, as well as taking steps towards industrial action over the Government’s decision to impose plans on GP earnings declarations and forcing GPs to oversee the Covid vaccination exemption process'.

With huge thanks to Dr Zakariya Goga, GP Partner and Trainer in Sale for sharing his reflections, and allowing us to publish.

“This is the media, an irresponsible media. It will make the criminal look like he is the victim and make the victim look like he is the criminal. If you are not careful, the media will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.” Malcom X 

“I am not what I think I am, and I am not what you think I am. I am what I think you think I am.” Charles Cooney

The current torrential and relentless vilification of General Practice - the very bedrock of the NHS; that should General Practice fail the entire NHS will fail - is taking a serious toll on the profession.