GP Contract 2026/27 Overview

•Focus on same-day urgent access and prevention

•Greater use of digital and online access pathways

•Shift of some funding from PCNs to practices

•Emphasis on reducing patient access bottlenecks

•Operational focus on urgent care responsiveness

Key Financial Changes

•Overall contract uplift of approximately £485m

•Total contract value around £13.9bn

•New practice-level GP reimbursement scheme

•Funding available for additional GP sessions

•Resources targeted toward same-day urgent access

New Access Requirements

•Same-day assessment for clinically urgent requests

•Patients should not be told to ‘call back tomorrow’

•Online consultation systems expected to remain open

•Improved response pathways for non-urgent requests

•Reduced dependence on 8am telephone booking systems

Digital and Operational Changes

•Greater use of online consultation systems

•Expanded digital triage and asynchronous communication

•Advice & Guidance (A&G) more embedded in workflows

•Single Points of Access (SPoA) expansion

•Increased use of NHS App and digital messaging

QOF and PCN Changes

•QOF refinements focused on prevention and outcomes

•More emphasis on cardiovascular and obesity management

•PCN Capacity & Access payments removed/reallocated

•ARRS flexibility and GP reimbursement continue

•Shift from process metrics toward population health

Implications for Practices

•Review urgent care and triage processes

•Ensure online access systems remain compliant

•Support digital-first patient communication

•Prepare for increased operational demand

•Monitor workload impacts from A&G and access changes