In a row over the GP’s new contract, they have overwhelmingly voted to strike for the first time in 60-years.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said that 98.3% of family doctors voted in favour of strike actions in England.
Doctors have warned the strike action could last for many “months” and the NHS could come to a complete “standstill very quickly” for administration staff.
Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA’s GP committee for England, said, “This will not be a ‘big bang’, it will be a slow burn. It’s likely that impact may not be felt for some time.
“We hope this will give the new government time to consider our proposed solutions including fixing our contract once and for all.”
Dr Bramall-Stainer said, “We had a huge response to this ballot, and the results are clear – GPs are at the end of their tether. This is an act of desperation.
“For too long, we’ve been unable to provide the care we want to. We are witnessing general practice being broken.
“The era of the family doctor has been wiped out by recent consecutive governments and our patients are suffering as a result.”
Dr Brammal-Stainer added that family doctor practices are “struggling to keep the lights on, can’t afford to hire much needed GPs and other staff, and some have even closed for good.”
She said that they understand the Labour government has inherited a “broken NHS” from the Conservatives.
The BMA said that they have had “positive conversations” with the Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary.
Dr Brammal-Stainer said, “These actions will help keep practices open and keep GPs in the NHS workforce to buy time for Mr Streeting to make the necessary changes that were promised in the Labour Party’s election manifesto.”
