This week Emma, Nick and Kimberley talk about the government’s plans for neighbourhoods - after the long-awaited neighbourhood health framework was published this week - and what it all means for general practice.

They also look in more detail at how GP contract changes to advice and guidance link into this and whether these changes could impede GPs’ right to refer, what they could mean for workload in general practice and concerns about patient safety.

And they discuss the results of our annual GP locum rates survey and what it tells us about rates of pay for locum GPs and how the jobs crisis has impacted on locums.

Our good news story this week is about a new ADHD service set up by the GP federation in Leeds which is helping to cut waiting times for assessment and treatment.

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

Government reveals how neighbourhood model will fit with GP contract

Neighbourhood plans ramp up focus on GP access and advice and guidance

Minister outlines timetable for 'new Carr-Hill formula'

Mandatory advice and guidance adds to patient safety risks, warns LMC

GP locum rates fall in England but rise in rest of UK

Locum GP earnings hit as most struggle to find enough work

Uncoordinated NHS reforms causing 'widespread disruption'

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This week Emma speaks to the co-chairs of the BMA sessional GP committee Dr Amy Small and Dr Kim Rollinson about the jobs crisis and how they hope to better represent sessional GPs.

In this conversation they discuss how the shortage of jobs is affecting locum and salaried GPs across the country and what needs to be done to address this issue.

They explain what salaried GPs should look out for when signing contracts, and what GP partners can do to be good employers and ensure their staff and locum GPs feel valued. They also talk about the push towards a neighbourhood NHS and what that could mean for sessional GPs, as well as how the rise in portfolio working is helping many doctors manage the intense pressures associated with being a GP.

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

Useful links

BMA sessional GP committee website

GPs in Scotland end dispute as £531m funding deal agreed

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

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BMA England GP committee chair Dr Katie Bramall speaks to Emma about the 2026/27 GP contract and the BMA’s referendum on the deal, which launched this week.

Katie explains why she thinks the 2026/27 contract is a bad deal for general practice and some of the problems around same-day access, advice and guidance and practice funding.

She talks about what happens if GPs reject the deal in the referendum, which may mean the profession begins taking action from as early as 1 April. Katie raises the prospect of a ballot on more serious action that could put practices in breach of their contract later in the summer if there is no movement from the government on the contract.

She also talks about the government’s plans for a neighbourhood NHS and how this will affect general practice and explains new BMA guidance on what practices and GPs should be doing now.

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

Useful links

BMA briefing paper on neighbourhoods

What's in the GP contract for 2026/27?

GP referral change revealed as NHS plays down same-day access impact

Viewpoint: Why mandatory advice and guidance risks a patient safety fiasco

Why the 2026/27 contract risks increased financial pressure for practices

MIMS Learning Live Digital 2026

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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

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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

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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

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Nick and Emma discuss how the BMA plans to respond when details of the 2026/27 GP contract are published, which are expected at some point this month, confusion about the time frame for neighbourhoods and how plans to ramp up advice and guidance could bring even more work to general practice in the coming year.

They also look at a couple of stories GPonline has published over the past week or so that show the increasing pressures GPs are under, including the difficulties many doctors have managing childcare arrangements as a result of work.

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

Useful links

BMA reveals stance on 2026/27 GP contract referendum and collective action

NHS reveals commissioning plan for multi-neighbourhood providers

Why advice and guidance could pile more unsustainable work on GPs next year

Uptake of £80m advice and guidance DES falling short

What the Health Survey for England shows about pressure on GPs

Sixth of GPs have quit a job because of childcare pressures

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Emma talks to Robert McCartney, a senior associate in the corporate commercial team at the law firm Hempsons to discuss the shift toward a neighborhood NHS and what this means for the future of general practice.

In this conversation, Robert outlines the potential impact new single and multi-neighborhood provider contracts could have and discusses the growing trend of PCNs incorporating as limited companies in response to possible changes and the practicalities of doing this.

He also sets out some practical steps practices and PCNs can take now to prepare for the the reform ahead. 

This episode is an extract from a recent video Robert and I did for our sister site GP Business’s Monthly Briefing series. You can watch the full video, which also includes Roberts thoughts on the future of the partnership model, by visiting https://www.gpbusiness.co.uk/article/1945845/video-neighbourhoods-will-affect-practices-gp-contracts If you are a registered user of GPonline you can use the same login details to access a limited amount of content on GP Business each month.

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

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This week Emma and Nick discuss a significant fall in the number of young GP partners, the reasons behind this and what the long term impact of this workforce shift might be.

They look at the exodus of UK-trained international medical graduate doctors to other countries and talk about why this group has been particularly hard hit by the GP jobs crisis. They also highlight the impact new legislation that will prioritise UK-trained doctors for specialty training posts could have in general practice.

And they discuss the latest on legal actions physician assistants are taking against GP practices, the RCGP and the BMA, after new scope of practice guidance lead to many practices reviewing their PAs’ roles and responsibilities.

Our good news story this week is about the national rollout of the WorkWell scheme which could help to reduce demand for GP appointments.

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

Useful links

Young GP partners in freefall as risk and uncertainty take toll

Why a 'heartbroken' new GP gave up his dream career in UK general practice

How prioritising UK graduates will transform competition for GP training

Dozens of PAs bid for £7.5m damages from practices, RCGP and BMA

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Emma speaks to Patrick Denston about how GP practices can make the best use of new tech and what the next five years could hold.

Patrick is a PCN digital transformation and change manager and a practice business manager based in Farnborough, Hampshire, as well as an NHS England AI peer ambassador.

He has a proven track record of successfully introducing new technology into general practice. In this conversation, Patrick explains how his practice has moved away from manual, paper-based processes to embrace digital and AI tools and advanced data analytics.

He discusses how these tools are helping to improve access and address other challenges in the practice and also shares some very practical advice for other practices looking to embrace new tech, including how to navigate the busy market of tech suppliers.

Emma and Patrick also look ahead to the future of general practice, discussing the government’s 10-year plan and how AI and data-led population health management could fundamentally change the way practices operate over the next five years.

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

Useful links

Viewpoint: How can general practice make best use of AI?

AI tools in general practice and liability - advice for GPs

Using AI transcribing software in general practice - medicolegal considerations

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