New GP Contract Deal: A Step Forward for Patient Access?

This morning, the Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) announced a long-awaited agreement on a new GP contract for the 2025/26 financial year. The deal, worth an additional ￡889 million, represents a 7.2% increase in funding to cover rising costs such as staff wages, building maintenance, and growing patient numbers. While this agreement brings an end to disputes between GPs and the Government over the past four years, the real test will be in its successful implementation and its ability to improve patient access to primary care services.

One of the most significant changes in the new contract is the reduction of "box-ticking targets”, which the Government claims will free up GP time and help address the much-criticised "8am scramble" for appointments. Additionally, from October 2025, all GP practices will be required to offer online appointment booking, easing pressure on phone lines and modernising access to primary care.

A further key reform incentivises continuity of care, ensuring that patients who would benefit most from seeing the same doctor at each consultation can do so more consistently. This move is widely welcomed, as research suggests that seeing the same GP improves health outcomes and reduces hospital admissions.

Addressing GP Workforce Challenges

Despite these positive steps, concerns remain. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged that while the deal resolves the immediate dispute with GPs, challenges regarding workforce shortages and patient demand persist. A larger GP workforce is crucial for ensuring the contract's success, yet recent years have seen a decline in GP numbers relative to patient needs. Without additional investment in recruitment and retention, the strain on primary care services may continue, limiting the effectiveness of these reforms.

Implementation Risks and Government Responsibility

For this contract to deliver meaningful improvements, the Government must ensure swift and effective implementation. This means providing clear guidance to GP practices, ensuring sufficient digital infrastructure for online appointment systems, and addressing underlying workforce challenges. Without these measures, the contract risks becoming another well-intentioned but ultimately unfulfilled policy initiative.

The BMA has also emphasised the need for a long-term commitment to reform beyond this financial year. The Government must work towards delivering a new, more sustainable contract within the current parliamentary term to provide much-needed stability and investment in general practice.

This announcement aligns with the ongoing work of Policy Connect and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Health, particularly within the upcoming inquiry into access to primary care. GP access has been identified as a key pillar in this initiative, and our forthcoming report will offer recommendations to further support improvements in primary care services, including general practice. For more information on the inquiry or to get involved, please contact Jasmin Adebisi ([email protected]).

By Jasmin Adebisi