Key Summary
- £300 million of existing funding will be ringfenced to recruit additional GPs
- Children to be protected from deadly viruses with incentives for GP immunisations
- GPs will help identify patients for referral through better data sharing with the Lung Cancer Screening Programme
The government on Tuesday (24) unveiled a new GP contract, backed by a £485 million uplift in government investment as it looks to shift the focus of the NHS out of hospital and into the community.
This brings the total increase in government spending on primary care in the last two years to £1.6 billion, and it aims to provide patients with speedy access to GP services.
Separately, nearly £300 million of existing funding will be ringfenced to recruit additional GPs, or increase sessions undertaken by GPs already hired at the practice. This is to tackle both GP unemployment and underemployment.
There is also a provision to recruit experienced GPs through the Additional Roles and Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS).
The new contract requires all patients with urgent needs to have access to a same-day GP appointment.
The funding and measures are part of the new GP contract for 2026 to 2027, which will come into force from 1 April.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said, “We’re giving practices the flexibility to hire more GPs, and backing them with extra funding to do so. As a result, many more patients with urgent needs will be able to get an appointment the day they contact their practice.
“Taken together, our changes will help patients stay healthy and out of hospital, whether it’s jabs for children, screening for lung cancer, weight loss support, or continuity of care – we’re backing our GPs to build a healthier nation.”
The government consulted with the BMA General Practice Committee England (BMA GPCE) as well as wider stakeholders, including the Royal College of General Practitioners, National Voices, Institute of General Practice Management, Healthwatch England, NHS Confederation and National Association of Primary Care.
Other key measures:
- More babies and children to be protected from deadly viruses with incentives for GP immunisations
- GPs will help identify thousands of patients for referral through better data sharing with the Lung Cancer Screening Programme
- In addition to telephone and walk-in access, online consultation systems will be required to continue staying open throughout core hours (from 8am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday) so patients can contact their GP digitally during working hours.
- Advice and Guidance to be embedded in GP contract so patients are referred to the right place and the right time
- GPs will be required to identify and prioritise patients for continuity of care
Weight loss
Patients living with obesity are set to receive improved access to weight loss support programmes and jabs from their GPs. Backed by £25 million of ring-fenced funding, GPs will be incentivised to boost high-quality obesity care for patients, including offering evidence-based advice, referrals to structured weight management programmes, and weight loss jabs approved for use on the NHS with wraparound support.
The government had last year made Mounjaro available in NHS primary care settings for weight management.
