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GPs in Wales have overwhelmingly voted to reject the Welsh Government’s latest contract offer.

Under the independent contractor model, GPs are self-employed and have responsibility for running the surgery and providing primary care under an NHS General Medical Services contract.

In Wales, this contract is negotiated routinely every year by the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association, and Welsh Government, through the union’s Welsh GP Committee.

The committee voted to reject the contract for 2024/25 last month, with a promise to consult its members with a referendum.

Of 1,093 GPs and GP registrars taking part, 98.7% voted against the contract.

BMA Cymru Wales also said it saw more GPs sign up as members during the voting period of  November 25 to December 16.

Dr Gareth Oelmann, chair of the BMA’s Welsh GP committee said: “The profession has delivered a clear message with this result. We simply cannot keep services going and meet the needs of our patients with less money and fewer resources. 

“If we accept the offer as it is, more practices will undoubtedly close leaving patients in greater peril. That’s why GPs from across Wales have taken a stand. 

“For years, the service has been starved of adequate funding which has led to the closure of 100 surgeries since 2012.  

“This is having a devastating impact on general practice. A recent survey of our members showed that 91% of GPs are routinely unable to meet patient demand due to unsustainably high workloads.  

“With fewer surgeries available, GPs are now seeing up to 35% more patients each, leading GPs to burnout, reduce their hours or leave. This is neither safe nor sustainable.”

The BMA had asked the Welsh Government for £10.8m to invest in GP pay, £27.2m for staff pay and an additional £8.9m to cover ‘unavoidable’ practice costs.

The Welsh Government was prepared to put forward £10m for doctor pay, £12.1m for staff and £1.8m for costs.

The BMA said it will continue with preparations for collective action by GPs.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We acknowledge the strength of feeling following the BMA Cymru Wales referendum and are committed to continuing to work with the profession to secure a sustainable future for general practice.

“Our offer met the independent pay review body recommendation for a 6% increase to GP pay and would have also seen that uplift applied to pay for all members of the practice team. This offer was made within a very constrained budget environment, which has required very difficult choices to be made.

“We recognise the pressure GPs face in terms of workload and are investing in new ways for people to access primary care services, including community pharmacy and the 111 helpline, to help relieve some of that pressure.

“We look forward to continuing discussions with GP representatives to ensure our GP services remain sustainable, providing vital local care now and in the future.”