New GP contract aims to end appointment scramble
Improving NHS access
The government and the British Medical Association (BMA) have reached an agreement on a new GP contract, aiming to tackle long-standing issues within the NHS and improve access to primary care. The deal, which marks the first such agreement in four years, seeks to "fix the front door of the NHS," with a focus on restoring the role of the family doctor and reducing the pressure on patients to secure appointments.
Overhauling appointment systems
The new contract will focus heavily on alleviating the frustrations many patients face when trying to book a GP appointment, not least the 8am scramble for appointments that has become the norm for many people.
"Patients need to be able to easily book an appointment, in the manner they want, with their regular doctor if they choose," said Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary.
The key feature of the new GP contract is an overhaul of appointment systems, including enabling patients to request appointments online throughout working hours from October. It is hoped that the new system will also free up phone lines for those who need them most.
Reducing administrative burdens
The reforms also aim to cut the administrative burdens on GPs, reducing unnecessary targets that take valuable time away from patient care. According to the agreement, nearly half of the 76 targets GPs are currently required to report on will be removed, allowing doctors to focus more on treating patients rather than completing paperwork.
In addition, the contract will provide extra funding of £889 million next year to help reverse the long-standing underfunding of general practice. This will bring the total spend on the GP contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26.
Dr. Amanda Doyle, NHS England national director for primary care and community services, said: "Improving patients’ access to general practice is a huge priority for the NHS and this contract sets out the next steps to put the family doctor at the heart of the shift to a neighbourhood health service.”
An online patient charter
Additionally, the government plans to introduce a new patient charter that will outline the services patients can expect from their GP practices. In a bid to enable patients to receive more personalised care, the contract encourages GPs to identify patients who would benefit from seeing the same clinician for every appointment. The hope is that this continuity of care can improve patient outcomes and strengthen relationships between patients and their doctors.
A crucial component of the government's broader health strategy, the new GP contract also ties into efforts to address the NHS's wider challenges, including reducing waiting lists and easing pressures on A&E departments. Earlier this year, as part of its Plan for Change, the government committed up to £80 million to support GPs in seeking specialist advice to speed up patient care when they are unsure about making a referral to hospital.
What does it mean for patients?
These latest reforms come in response to a decade of increasing pressures on general practice, where funding has decreased as a share of the NHS budget while targets and workloads have soared. This imbalance has led to significant difficulties in accessing appointments and record low patient satisfaction.
The new deal will address some of these concerns by increasing funding for GPs and simplifying their working conditions, ensuring that they can better meet patient needs.
Chris Steele, founder and editor of myTribe Insurance Experts, welcomed the changes, calling them a step in the right direction. He said: “The new contract is an important shift for GPs and their patients. By cutting unnecessary administrative tasks and embracing digital solutions, it allows GPs to devote more time to patient care, which is the core of the NHS. This is the kind of transformation the NHS needs if it is to remain fit for the future.”
The new contract will come into effect in April, although some of the changes will be implemented later this year. Whether these measures will truly signal the end of the 8am appointment scramble or replace it with an online scramble and frustrations with IT issues remains to be seen. Either way, the goal of smoother, more efficient access to general practice, and the return of the family doctor to the heart of primary care is an aspiration that is hard to argue against.
