Following the announcement by the British Medical Association (BMA) confirming that GP practices will be taking collective action across the country from 1 August, the following advice has been made for patients:
 GP practices are open, and patients should continue to access the in the same way as they normally do.

Individual GP practices will advise patients about changes to their services at their practice.

During collective action practices are still required to fulfil their contracts. This means:

Practices are required to be open between 0800 and 1830 Monday to Friday. 

Practices should provide reasonable care to patients. This includes:
• Making appointments available
• Providing advice or care to patients by another means
• Giving advice on alternative services
• Providing access to prescriptions, long terms condition management, vaccinations, diagnoses, and referral (including where clinically urgent)  

Practices also need to take into account:
• The needs of a patient to avoid risks to patient safety.
• The benefits to patients of providing continuity of care.

Over the coming days/weeks, NHS Devon will be working closely with GPs and colleagues to understand the detail of what any collective action may look like and the plans that need to be put in place to support patients in Devon.

NHS Devon is working with NHS England and system partners to monitor activity so that every step has been taken to ensure care continues to be delivered safely and that reasonable needs of patients continue to be met, alongside the other contractual requirements.