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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Emma and Nick talk about some key news stories from the end of December and the start of this year linked to issues where we are expecting some major developments in the early part of 2026.

They talk about the 2026/27 GP contract, what the BMA and RCGP have said the contract needs to address, as well as some of their own predictions about what could happen.

They look at what comes next with neighbourhoods and how general practice can ensure it is protected against big changes that could be coming down the track.

And they discuss the impact the ongoing jobs crisis is having on the profession in England and what the government could do to address this in both the GP contract and the forthcoming workforce plan.

This week’s good news story is about the GPs and other general practice staff awarded new year honours.

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

Submit your case studies highlighting good work in your practice to GP Business here.

Useful links

GPs, practice nurses and practice manager recognised in New Year Honours

BMA reveals GP contract demands for 2026/27

New RCGP chair outlines college response to GP contract consultation

GPs forming huge companies to bid for neighbourhood contracts

Registrars delay qualifying as GPs amid 'bleak' job market

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Emma speaks to the new chair of the Royal College of GPs Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown, who took on the post at the end of November.

Victoria is the first international medical graduate to chair the college and has worked as a GP in East London for 20 years.

In this conversation, Victoria sets out her priorities for her time as chair, including defining the role of general practice in a changing healthcare system, tackling workload pressures and ensuring new technology supports GPs in practice - and why the college is running a consultation with members on these key issues.

She explains why she wants to bring hope back to the profession and help make general practice a sustainable and fulfilling career once again and highlights the importance of the college championing continuity of care as part of this.

Victoria also talks about the college's relationship with the government, her views on plans for a neighbourhood NHS and the current jobs crisis facing GPs, as well as the college's ongoing campaign to secure better visa rights for IMG GP registrars.

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

Useful links

Details of the RCGP consultation on its key priorities

Low pay could force IMG GPs to quit UK, doctors warn

Quarter of GPs use AI but 'wild west' rollout sparks safety fears

Nuffield Trust/RCGP report on how GPs are using AI

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Emma speaks to Dr Vish Ratnasuriya, a GP partner and the elected chair of Our Health Partnership, one of the UK’s largest super partnerships. Vish was also recently appointed as a member of the newly formed National Commission for the Regulation of AI in Healthcare.

In this episode, Vish explains how Our Health Partnership;s ‘decentralized’ super partnership model helps support practices while retaining local autonomy. He discusses the advantages of working at scale and the shift towards neighborhood working - and shares his views on why general practice needs to lead on this work and the opportunities for moving more care out of hospitals and into the community.

He also talks about the huge role technology and AI will play in the future of the NHS. Vish explains what the new national commission aims to achieve and the vital importance of establishing clear rules on liability and safety for new technologies.

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

Useful links

Our Health Partnership

National Commission for the Regulations of AI in Healthcare

Primary Care Accelerator

West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerator

Quarter of GPs use AI but 'wild west' rollout sparks safety fears

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

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