FAMILY doctors in England took industrial action for the first time in more than 60 years today amid a row over the new contract for services.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting vowed to build a “new relationship” with GPs after the British Medical Association (BMA) announced the immediate work-to-rule action and began capping the number of patients they are willing to see.

The BMA is encouraging surgeries to choose from a list of 10 actions after 98.3 per cent of more than 8,500 GPs backed collective action in a ballot.