Nearly half of England’s GP surgeries taking industrial action, survey finds

A survey suggests that 46% of GP practices are already taking work-to-rule action. Photograph: parkerphotography/Alamy

Almost half of GP surgeries in England are staging industrial action for the first time in 60 years amid a row over funding, with one in four capping the number of patients a doctor sees to 25 a day, a survey suggests.

Family doctors voted overwhelmingly in favour of collective action earlier this month in protest at the last government increasing their budget by only 1.9% this year. The new government has pledged to increase funding for 2024-25 to 6%.