The BMA’s GP Committee for England (GPCE) has agreed in principle to accept proposed amendments to the 2025/26 GP GMS (General Medical Services) contract on behalf of its GP members in England, following two months of intense negotiations with the Government.  

At a GPCE meeting held yesterday (Thursday), the committee agreed to accept proposed reforms – including an overall funding uplift of £889 million for the 2025/26 GMS contract – providing the Government commits to renegotiating a completely new national contract within this Parliament. The GPCE has stipulated that this commitment must be confirmed in writing by mid March 2025.

GPCE chair Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer said: 
 
“Previous governments have driven general practice to desperation, with patients bearing the brunt of years of chronic underfunding of GP services. At the end of last year, the Government announced its funding package and GPCE is clear that its acceptance of these changes is contingent on the Government agreeing to renegotiate a new contract in this Parliament. The green shoots of recovery will be seen when we start to see a fall in the numbers of practices being forced to close - closures that leave patients waiting far too long to see their GP. Our patients deserve the best care possible in a timely manner, and the Government needs to support GPs as the exemplar for productivity and efficiency within the NHS. 
 
“It is the BMA and GPCE’s job to unite the profession, speak up for GPs, and do what we can to protect the future of the profession. After 15 years of erosion to the value of practice contracts these proposed changes mark a turning point. However, the Government must now recognise the imperative to deliver a new contract within the current Parliament for meaningful reform and vital investment. Only then can we keep the front door of our NHS open, provide timely patient care, and alleviate pressure across our entire health service.  
 
“This agreed uplift to our annual contract sees the first step on the road to recovery of rebuilding general practice across England. However, GPCE has been clear, we have shown that we want to work in good faith with this Government and build on this new beginning – what we now need is certainty about our collective future. We know the Treasury will be announcing its funding plans for this Parliament and its ten-year plan for the NHS later this Spring, and we need to see a new substantive GP practice contract for England in the upcoming comprehensive spending review. This is how Government can put its words into action and bring back the family doctor, fix the front door of the NHS, and shift resource from a hospital focus towards care closer to home within the community at your local surgery.  

“We hope the Government seizes this once in a generation opportunity and repays the trust we are placing in them to do the right thing by England’s GPs, and by their patients.  

“Of course, a single set of changes won’t reverse over a decade’s starvation of general practice, but it’s within the Government’s gift to deliver on a new contract that will secure the longer-term future of general practice." 

The changes will provide a 7.2% cash growth in contract funding, including:

•  Almost £800 million national funding into the ‘Global Sum’ to help cover rising costs - including staff and premises expenses and patient list growth
• A relaxation in the rules for the Primary Care Networks – these are groups of GP practices that work together to deliver a wider range of services to the local community – directed enhanced service, allowing individual practices to decide which roles to hire using their additional staff budgets, rather than having this dictated centrally 
• An increase in the fees paid to GPs for routine childhood vaccinations; and
• An additional £80 million investment – separate from the £889 million funding uplift – for a new Enhanced Service that compensates GPs for advice and guidance requests: the correspondence that GPs send to hospital consultants to ensure patients receive the best care in the most appropriate setting.

The BMA believes that these reforms represent an important first step on the journey towards rebuilding general practice after years of underfunding and is calling for a formal commitment to continue this progress until general practice is fully restored.

While the Association acknowledges that the contract continues to pay for GP roles within the scheme known as ARRS – which allows healthcare staff such as paramedics and therapists to be hired by PCNs – the Government says GPs employed under it will now be paid in line with the BMA's recommended salary range. The Government also proposes to remove the cap on the number of GPs that can be employed through the scheme, which the Government hopes will go some way in reducing GP unemployment in the short-term. The BMA has made it clear that a practice-level employment solution will be needed in the long-term.

Detailed information about the contract changes and how they will affect them personally will be provided to GPs in the coming days.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.

1. Read details of the agreed contract offer
2. GPC England and the BMA will now pause collective action to work with the Government over the coming weeks to secure the necessary assurances and issue guidance to the profession over safe working and filling local commissioning gaps