Tim Tonkin

In an increasingly uncertain world, the role of healthcare in national preparedness has never been more critical. The BMA is calling for the Government to work with the medical profession to ensure doctors and the NHS are central to the UK’s conflict preparedness planning.

A career pathway seeking to end the ‘wild west’ of exploitative contracts for LEDs (locally employed doctors) has been unveiled by the BMA and NHS Employers. Known as the EPF (Eligibility Permanency Framework), it will enable LEDs who meet the relevant criteria to move to nationally recognised specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctor contracts.

GPs in England are to be ballotedoverwhetheran alternative strategy for the provision of generalpractice services should be considered, the BMA has confirmed. In a forthcoming BMA session, GPs will vote on whether the BMA GPs committee England should explorealternative service models for general practice, including giving GPs greater freedom to provideprivate,means-testedand subscription-based services in line with the approach taken by NHS dentists.