The government has come to a new agreement with the British Medical Association (BMA) to reform the General Practitioner (GP) contract, improving access to healthcare and restoring the family doctor model
The deal is the first of its kind in the last four years. It aims to address long-standing challenges facing the NHS by freeing up GPs from excessive paperwork and bureaucracy, ultimately making it easier for patients to get the care they need.
Hopefully, these new GP contract reforms will come into place in April and will focus on tackling the persistent issue of appointment access.
Improving patient experience
A main part of the deal is making online appointments easier to book for patients and available through working hours.
This change will allow patients to request appointments digitally, reducing the strain on phone lines and making it easier for those who need immediate assistance to reach their GP.
By allowing practices to organise patients based on medical needs, the new reforms hope to end the daily scramble for appointments, which has become a hallmark of the NHS for years.
Improving GPs
An extra £889 million will be allocated next year, helping to reverse years of underinvestment in primary care. This increased funding is designed to support GPs in delivering higher-quality care and ensure that more patients can see their regular doctor for appointments, promoting continuity of care and improving patient outcomes.
One of the main elements of the new deal is the reduction of administrative burdens for GPs. Over the past decade, GPs have been burdened with increasing targets and red tape, taking valuable time away from patient care.
The new contract will remove nearly half of the reporting requirements, including staff wellbeing and IT systems. This will allow GPs to spend more time with patients, addressing their medical concerns rather than dealing with unnecessary paperwork.
Improving digital access for patients
In addition to online appointment booking, a new online patient charter will be introduced.
This will give patients clear information about the services they can expect from their GP practice, ultimately making it easier for them to understand their rights and available care.
Reducing pressure on emergency services
As part of efforts to address wider pressures within the NHS, the reforms also include a new initiative to help GPs collaborate with specialist consultants. By encouraging GPs to get advice from specialists before making hospital referrals, the government hopes to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and reduce waiting times for other parts of the health service, such as Accident and Emergency (A&E). This initiative is backed by up to £80 million in funding.
These new changes are in response to the growing public concerns about the accessibility of GP services.
A large amount of the population has voiced their disappointment with waiting times and difficulties in securing appointments, ultimately leading to increased pressure on emergency departments and other areas of the health service.
The government’s Plan for Change hopes to address these issues by shifting pressure from hospitals to local communities and making healthcare more proactive, personalised, and accessible.
The agreement between the government and the BMA shows a continued commitment to improving primary care and rebuilding the NHS. By addressing the issues that GPs have been facing, the changes are designed to restore trust in the system and ensure patients have better access to convenient and effective care.
