The British Medical Association (BMA) has conditionally accepted proposed changes to the General Practitioner (GP) contract, marking what the organization describes as a "starting point" for future negotiations. The amendments are set to increase contract funding by 7.2%, raising the estimated global sum per weighted patient to £121.90. This follows a significant investment of £433 million added to the contract last autumn, highlighting a continuous commitment to enhancing primary healthcare services across the nation.
The proposed amendments include an £889 million increase to core contract funding, aimed at bolstering the financial support available to GP practices. Additionally, there is an allocation of £80 million designated for the NHS e-Referral Service, which seeks to streamline patient referrals and improve access to specialist care. Furthermore, service fees for childhood immunisations will rise by £2, bringing the new fee to £12.06, reflecting an effort to support essential health services for children.
A notable adjustment within the contract changes involves the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). Under the new guidelines, practice nurses included in this scheme must not have held a position within the same primary care network for the previous 12 months. Importantly, there will be no cap on the number of GPs that can be employed under the ARRS scheme. However, access remains limited to newly qualified GPs who are within two years of completing their training and those who have not previously held substantive GP employment.
Starting from October 1, 2025, GP practices will be required to allow patients to submit routine, non-urgent appointment requests, medication inquiries, and administrative requests through online consultation tools during core hours. This initiative aims to enhance patient access and convenience, aligning with the NHS's commitment to modernizing healthcare delivery.
In addition, GPs will receive a payment of £20 for each request they process for pre-referral advice and guidance. A review of secondary care advice available to GPs is scheduled for spring 2025, ensuring that practitioners have access to up-to-date information when referring patients. From October, registered pharmacy professionals will also gain access to patient records via GP Connect (Update Record), further integrating healthcare services.
The reimbursable amount for ARRS-funded GPs will see an increase of £9,305, raising the total to £82,418 plus associated on-costs. This adjustment is expected to incentivize practices to recruit more GPs and improve service delivery.
Dr. Amanda Doyle emphasized the importance of these changes, stating that "improving patients’ access to general practice is a huge priority for the NHS." She noted that the contract sets out the next steps in positioning family doctors at the heart of a neighborhood-oriented health service.
The Department of Health and Social Care referred to these changes as "a reset of relations," indicating a renewed focus on collaboration between the government and healthcare providers.
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