This week the GPonline team talks about how untapped capacity among GP locums could help deliver hundreds of thousands of extra GP appointments every week, and what this all means in light of the current challenges sessional GPs are facing finding work.

They also discuss NHS England’s evidence to the Doctors and Dentists Review Body, which is due to make recommendations on whether GP funding should be increased further this year - as well as some of the steps practices are being forced to consider to cope with the tiny 1.9% funding increase they have currently been given.

There’s also news about a contract deal for GPs in Northern Ireland that could be agreed by the time this episode comes out, and they discuss NHS England’s decision to U-turn on funding cuts it was planning to make to NHS Practitioner Health - the specialist mental health service for doctors and NHS staff.

Our good news story this week is about a practice that has won a national small business award.

You can listen to the podcast interview with NHS Practitioner Health’s medical director Helen Garr here.

NHS Practitioner Health’s website is here.

Other useful links

Untapped locum capacity could deliver 250,000 extra GP appointments a week

GP workforce, funding and continuity all linked to higher life expectancy

Northern Ireland GPs near landmark deal to cover indemnity costs and abolish QOF

NHS evidence on GP pay 'completely out of date'

Practices weigh up cutting services, staff and partner drawings in coming year

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