NEW GP contract five-year framework

NHS England and the British Medical Association’s General Practitioners Committee have agreed a five-year GP (General Medical Services) contract framework from 2019/20.  The new contract framework marks some of the biggest general practice contract changes in over a decade and will be essential to deliver the ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term Plan through strong general practice services.

The contract looks to reduce pressure and stabilise general practice. It will ensure general practice plays a leading role in every Primary Care Network (PCN) which will include bigger teams of health professionals working together in local communities. It will mean much closer working between networks and their Integrated Care System.

As part of the new contract NHS England will

• Create and part-fund a new primary care Fellowship Scheme aimed at newly qualifying nurses and GPs, as well as Training Hubs
• Extend current NHS England recruitment and retention schemes under the General Practice Forward View
• Establish primary care Training Hubs from 2020/21 to enable more consistent provision of training and continuing professional development for primary care staff in the community
• By 2023/24, PCNs will be guaranteed funding for around 20,000 more health professionals including additional clinical pharmacists, physician associates, first contact physiotherapists, community paramedics and social prescribing link workers. Bigger teams of health professionals will work across PCNs, as part of community teams, providing tailored care for patients and will allow GPs to focus more on patients with complex needs.

Read more about the five year GP contract 2019/20 – 2023/24 here.