GPs capping patient numbers could have ‘catastrophic’ effect on A&E, says NHS chief

Exclusive: Concerns that 3m appointments a month in England will disappear if industrial action goes ahead

Industrial action by GPs could have a “catastrophic” impact on A&E units, the 111 telephone advice service and mental healthcare, a senior NHS leader has told the Guardian.

Family doctors who run GP surgeries across England are about to finish voting on whether to reduce the care they provide – including limiting the number of patients they see to 25 a day – in protest at the previous government increasing their budget by only 1.9% this year.