In this week's episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back to the podcast Peter Maynard, Executive Partner at Horfield Health Centre and Ceri Chaplin, Managing Partner at Hereford Medical Group. Following the publication of the 2026/27 GP contract, they discuss the headline changes and what they could mean for general practice. While the announcement highlights new investment, the reality for practices may be more complex, with funding pressures, operational changes and unanswered questions about how the proposals will work in practice.

The conversation explores the implications for practice finances, workforce recruitment, PCNs, advice and guidance, performance management and quality frameworks, alongside the practical challenges managers face when implementing national policy locally.

As always, the details still need to emerge, but this episode provides an early perspective on the potential risks, opportunities and uncertainties facing general practice over the next year.

Introduction (00:49)

Initial reactions to the GP Contract (01:17)

Funding and the headline investment (03:10)

Capacity and Access funding changes (06:39)

Changes to ARRS funding (09:44)

The future of PCNs and neighbourhood working (11:12)

Advice and Guidance becoming core work (13:44)

Increased expectations and performance management (17:58)

QOF changes and obesity management (21:10)

Childhood immunisation targets (22:57)

What happens next? (24:31)

To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here.

For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here.