DAUK’s GP committee says the agreed 2025/26 GP contract is a start to fixing the ‘significant issues facing general practices’.
However, Dr Steve Taylor, DAUK’s GP spokesperson, fears much of the £969m funding uplift, will go towards increased National Insurance contributions, staff, and costs.
And he called for greater future investment in general practice to ‘reverse the decline’ of the past decade and more.
Dr Taylor said: “The new GP contract goes a small way to fix some of the significant issues for GP practices, in that it prevents further declines in funding with a small percentage increase.
National Insurance contributions
“Sadly, much of the increase in funding will be lost to National Insurance contributions, staff and on costs.
“While there has been an acknowledgment of the need to invest in community services, a much larger investment will be needed to reverse the decline and build more capacity for the future.
“We look forward to seeing greater emphasis placed on GP provision in the future years.
“We also hope that amendments to the legislation on National Insurance contributions for GP practices, recommended by the House of Lords, will be implemented without a cut in this proposed budget.”
His comments come as GPC England voted to accept the proposed contract, which includes an overall funding uplift of £969m for 2025/26, contingent on full renegotiation of the national contract within this parliament.
Contract changes
Key headlines from the 25-26 GP contract changes:
- £969 million new investment uplift – comprises £889m additional core contract funding and £80m for use of e-RS advice and guidance between GPs and consultants.
- This investment is on top of the £433m added to the contract during autumn last year.
- Enhancement of ARRS, with GPs and practice nurses added in to the main scheme, minimum GP salary + on-cost reimbursement increased in line with the BMA salaried GP pay range and with no caps on numbers
- Enhanced service for ‘pre-referral’ advice and guidance with a £20 item of service fee payment per request by GPs
- Restoration / uplift of SFE payments (sickness/parental leave cover) in line with 2025-26 real-terms values (compared to 2018/19), including locum reimbursements and childhood vaccination payments.
- Changes to requirements for patient online e-consultation access to general practice from October 2025
Continuity of care
Dr Lizzie Toberty, DAUK GP lead, said: “We welcome the Government’s emphasis on continuity of care and patients being able to see the same doctor.
“This is how high quality care which facilitates the move from hospital to community can happen, and there are huge efficiencies to be gained as well.”
Dr Rosie Shire, DAUK GP committee member, added: “The move to increase ARRS (Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme) funding for GPs is helpful.
ARRS posts
“However, it is not clear if GP ARRS posts are going to be open to experienced GPs as well, or whether they will continue to be restricted to those within two years of qualifying.
“We have thousands of GPs out of work and struggling to find work, and practices need to be able to employ the GPs they need.
“Funding GPs, who can give patients continuity of care, is the best use of the ARRS funds and will keep more patients out of hospital.”
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