Nick and Emma explain how the GP contract for 2026/27 in England is set to change, how it will impact on practices and what it means for the current dispute between the BMA and the government.

In this episode they talk about what the contract changes mean for practice and PCN finances, and whether the funding increase will make a difference, or boost jobs available for GPs.

They also look at a new requirement for same day access for urgent patients, plus changes to the QOF, additional roles reimbursement scheme and how practices are paid for advice and guidance.

And they talk about the reaction to the deal and what happens next in the ongoing dispute with the government.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock, It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

What's in the GP contract for 2026/27? - full details of all the changes

Contract uplift leaves practices 'treading water' and risks cashflow crisis

GP contract funding to rise by £485m in 2026/27

Raid on PCN cash to fund practice-level recruitment as ARRS rules changed

New targets on same-day access and obesity in 2026/27 GP contract

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The GPonline team discusses the latest news affecting general practice.

This week Emma and Nick look at how the GP workforce is changing across England and which areas are moving quickest towards what’s considered a safe GP patient ratio.

They also discuss what we know and don’t know about this year’s GP contract, rounding up a number of stories GPonline has published recently that cover issues including childhood vaccinations, staff pay rises, the GP funding formula review and what forthcoming guidance on neighbourhoods could mean for general practice.

For this week’s good news story senior reporter Kimberley Hackett highlights the winners of the London General Practice Awards, which were presented in the Houses of Parliament earlier this month.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Which areas are moving fastest towards a safe GP-patient ratio?

NHS to ramp up GP contract focus on diabetes and child vaccination

Which parts of England are furthest behind as child vaccine PR campaign begins?

Funding cuts could force GP practices to pull out of flu jab campaign

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

MPs raise concerns over GP funding formula review

Londonwide LMCs award winners

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma speaks to Professor Bola Owolabi, a practising GP in the Midlands and the chief inspector of primary care and community services at the CQC. Before this she director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme at NHS England, where she led the Core20PLUS5 approach to tackling healthcare inequalities.

Bola took on her role at the CQC in July last year at a particularly turbulent time for the regulator.

In this conversation, she discusses how the CQC is working to turn things around after facing significant criticism about its work, the development of a new sector-specific assessment framework for primary care, and how she hopes inspections will become a less stressful experience for GPs, practice managers and the rest of the practice team.

Bola also talks about her own experience of leading the turnaround of a GP practice in a deprived area that was rated inadequate, the role of the CQC in improving care and tackling health inequalities, and how the regulator views the move towards neighbourhood health and the use of AI in general practice.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

CQC regulators pioneers’ fund information

Lack of investment in community services will hit plans to shift care out of hospitals, says CQC

CQC mythbuster on AI in general practice

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.