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GP contract uplift 'meaningless' without clarity on future of PCNs Changes to the GP contract for 2026/27 look set to be announced this month - but details of any uplift could be 'meaningless' if the government fails to clarify the future of PCNs, experts warn.

GP contract uplift 'meaningless' without clarity on future of PCNs

Neighbourhood goals 'unclear' as NHS promises new guidance within weeks Neighbourhood health models will take five years to deliver improvements - but the NHS has yet to define what it wants them to achieve, a senior NHS research expert has warned.

Neighbourhood goals 'unclear' as NHS promises new guidance within weeks

Pace of ICB cuts risks slowing improvement in patient care, warns GP/MP Exclusive: The speed at which ICB cuts are taking place alongside wider NHS reforms risks slowing improvements in patient care - and redundancies should have been phased in over a ‘few years', Labour ...

EXCLUSIVE: Pace of ICB cuts risks slowing improvement in patient care, warns GP/MP
www.gponline.com/pace-icb-cut...

Podcast: Will the next GP contract mean a return to collective action, plus signs of rising pressure on GPs The GPonline team discusses the latest news affecting general practice.

Podcast: Will the next GP contract mean a return to collective action, plus signs of rising pressure on GPs

Evaporating practice contracts leave general practice 'critically endangered' The number of GP practice contracts in England has plummeted by 20% over the past decade, sparking warnings from GP leaders that the profession is 'critically endangered'.

Evaporating practice contracts leave general practice 'critically endangered'

GPs to deliver RSV jabs to an extra 3m older adults GPs could deliver RSV jabs to an extra 3m older adults from April after the government backed expert advice to extend the vaccination programme to over-80s.

GPs to deliver RSV jabs to an extra 3m older adults

GPs have lost out from NHS funding moving 'wrong way', minister admits GPs and primary care services have lost out on NHS funding over the past decade because it has gone the ‘wrong way’ into hospitals, a government health minister has admitted.

GPs have lost out from NHS funding moving 'wrong way', minister admits

GP appointments hit new record high in 2025 GP practices in England delivered more than 388m appointments in 2025 - a new record high - after four successive months at the end of the year in which appointments surged well over 30m.

GP appointments hit new record high in 2025

Podcast: How neighbourhoods could affect GP and PCN contracts Talking General Practice speaks to Robert McCartney, a senior associate in the corporate commercial team at law firm Hempsons, about the shift towards a neighbourhood NHS and what it means for the…

Podcast: How neighbourhoods could affect GP and PCN contracts

Uptake of £80m advice and guidance DES falling short Just one in four ICBs were on track to spend their full share of funding from the £80m advice and guidance DES at the halfway point in the 2025/26 financial year, GPonline analysis reveals.

Uptake of £80m advice and guidance DES falling short
www.gponline.com/uptake-80m-a...

Neighbourhood contracts unlikely to appear before April, says BMA Details of neighbourhood contracts that could have a major impact on the future of general practice and the core GMS contract are unlikely to emerge until April, GP leaders have warned.

Neighbourhood contracts unlikely to appear before April, says BMA England GP committee
www.gponline.com/neighbourhoo...

BMA reveals stance on 2026/27 GP contract referendum and collective action GP leaders are expecting details of the 2026/27 GMS contract to be made public in February - and could hold a referendum of the profession on whether to accept it.

BMA reveals stance on 2026/27 GP contract referendum and collective action
www.gponline.com/bma-reveals-...

Sixth of GPs have quit a job because of childcare pressures One in six GPs have left a job because of problems balancing childcare with work, a poll has found.

Sixth of GPs have quit a job because of childcare pressures www.gponline.com/sixth-gps-qu...

What the Health Survey for England shows about pressure on GPs Findings from the latest Health Survey for England reveal rising pressure on general practice as a growing proportion of the population lives with poor health and long-term illness.

What the Health Survey for England shows about pressure on GPs
www.gponline.com/health-surve...

Viewpoint: The ‘left shift’ is already here – but it’s not being funded The shift of work from hospitals into general practice is happening at an unprecedented pace, but it has not been agreed with GPs, is not funded, and is more about transferring risk and responsibility...

Viewpoint: The ‘left shift’ is already here – but it’s not being funded, warns Dr Kamal Sidhu www.gponline.com/viewpoint-le...

Why advice and guidance could pile more unsustainable work on GPs next year Rollout of an £80m advice and guidance directed enhanced service in 2025/26 has added to unsustainable workload in general practice, GP leaders say - and plans to expand it next year could pile on yet...

Why advice and guidance could pile more unsustainable work on GPs next year www.gponline.com/why-advice-g...

Podcast: Young GP partners in freefall, IMG GPs hit hard by jobs crisis, PA legal action The GPonline team discusses the key news stories affecting general practice.

Podcast: Young GP partners in freefall, IMG GPs hit hard by jobs crisis, PA legal action www.gponline.com/podcast-youn...

Everything 'up for grabs' as GPs wait for detail on neighbourhood plans General practice is entering a period where ‘everything is up for grabs’ as GPs await further details on how the government intends to develop neighbourhoods in 2026/27 and beyond, a legal expert has ...

Everything 'up for grabs' as GPs wait for detail on neighbourhood plans www.gponline.com/everything-u...

How did the GP workforce in England change in 2025? For the third year running, England ended last year with more GPs than it had 12 months earlier. GPonline looks at what NHS data show about how the workforce has shifted and what's driving the change.

How did the GP workforce in England change in 2025? www.gponline.com/gp-workforce...

Laws to speed up fitness to practise cases and rename PAs due this year Legislation to speed up fitness to practise cases, strip the GMC of its right to appeal and change the name of PAs will be completed this year, the regulator's chief executive has told MPs.

Laws to speed up fitness to practise cases and rename PAs due this year
www.gponline.com/laws-speed-f...

GPs need veto to stop hospital power grab under 10-year health plan GPs should be able to veto hospital trusts taking on expanded powers under the 10-year health plan - and need contract safeguards to stop patient lists or funding being stripped from general practice,...

GPs need veto to stop hospital power grab under 10-year health plan www.gponline.com/gps-need-vet...

Why a 'heartbroken' new GP gave up his dream career in UK general practice A newly-qualified GP and former RCGP registrar leader has lifted the lid on why he made the 'heartbreaking' decision to quit the UK to find work - and his fears for the future of NHS general practice.

Why a 'heartbroken' new GP gave up his dream career in UK general practice www.gponline.com/why-heartbro...

Senior NHS manager jailed for six-figure fake ARRS staff fraud A senior NHS manager has been jailed after defrauding the health service of more than £100,000 by making payments to fake additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS) staff.

Senior NHS manager jailed for six-figure fake ARRS staff fraud www.gponline.com/senior-nhs-m...

Dozens of PAs bid for £7.5m damages from practices, RCGP and BMA Court hearings will begin next month for dozens of physician associates (PAs) claiming a combined total of £7.5m in damages from individual practices, the RCGP and BMA over changes to their roles.

Dozens of PAs bid for £7.5m damages from practices, RCGP and BMA

BMA considered defamation claim over Wes Streeting letter Exclusive: The BMA asked lawyers to investigate whether a letter from Wes Streeting was defamatory towards its GP committee chair Dr Katie Bramall, GPonline understands.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS🚨
EXCLUSIVE: BMA considered defamation claim over Wes Streeting letter

Disproportionate GMC referrals of ethnic minority doctors more common in primary care Disproportionate referrals of ethnic minority and non-UK qualified doctors are more common in primary care-based designated bodies, with a GMC drive to bring down inequality making its greatest…

Disproportionate GMC referrals of ethnic minority doctors more common in primary care

GP job shortage among key threats to neighbourhood rollout, officials warn Upheaval in ICBs and a failure to create jobs to bring newly-qualified GPs into the NHS workforce are major threats to the rollout of neighbourhoods, a government document warns.

GP job shortage among key threats to neighbourhood rollout, officials warn

How prioritising UK graduates will transform competition for GP training Government plans to prioritise UK medical graduates for specialty training could guarantee almost all suitable UK applicants for general practice training are successful, NHS figures suggest.

How prioritising UK graduates will transform competition for GP training

How prioritising UK graduates will transform competition for GP training Government plans to prioritise UK medical graduates for specialty training could guarantee almost all suitable UK applicants for general practice training are successful, NHS figures suggest.

How prioritising UK graduates will transform competition for GP training