This document provides in-depth guidance for key stakeholders on implementing the 2025/26 GP contract changes. Click on the relevant section to jump to detailed guidance tailored to your role.

GP Partners: What This Means for Your Practice’s Future

Key Focus: Strategic financial and workforce planning, contract changes, and long-term sustainability

1. Financial changes: Understanding the Global Sum increase, QOF retirements and changes, and funding redistribution.
   
2. £889m investment: How will it impact your income streams?
   
3. ARRS expansion: Should your practice hire more staff under the scheme?
   
4. Online consultation mandates: What’s the best way to prepare?
   
5. Managing continuity of care & patient expectations under the new Patient Charter.
   
6. Regulatory changes: How will out-of-area registrations, patient removals, and partnership dissolutions be handled?
   
7. Next steps for GP partners: Actions to take in the next 6 months.
   

Practice Managers: How to Implement the 2025/26 Contract Changes

Key Focus: Day-to-day operational impact, IT system updates, and compliance

1. What’s changing and when? A timeline of key contract implementation dates.
   
2. Online booking system: Integrating new appointment access rules effectively.
   
3. Admin burden reduction: The impact of removing QOF indicators and box-ticking.
   
4. Locum reimbursement increases: Maximising claims.
   
5. GP Connect implementation: Ensuring compliance by October 2025.
   
6. Financial implications for practice budgets: Understanding funding allocation.
   
7. Vaccination programme changes: Updates to patient communication and recall.
   
8. Patient Charter: What needs to be displayed on your practice website.
   
9. Checklist for practice managers: Ensuring readiness before October 2025.
   

PCN Managers: Maximising Opportunities in the New Contract

Key Focus: Workforce strategy, funding changes, and continuity of care

1. ARRS changes: No caps on hiring GPs & practice nurses, increased reimbursement.
   
2. PCN Capacity & Access Funding (£87.6m) - What’s changing?
   
3. Continuity of care incentives: Identifying high-risk patients.
   
4. Funding redistribution from QOF into CVD prevention: Key implications.
   
5. Advice & Guidance Enhanced Service (£80m): Reducing referrals & maximising funding.
   
6. PCN digital transformation: Online consultations & GP Connect access requirements.
   
7. Next steps for PCN leads: How to maximise new funding opportunities.
   

ICB Managers: Strategic Implications & Commissioning Priorities

Key Focus: Contract enforcement, workforce strategy, and system-wide planning

1. ICB oversight of contract changes: Ensuring compliance and supporting practices.
   
2. Alignment with NHS Long Term Plan and ‘Plan for Change.’
   
3. Redistribution of QOF funds into CVD prevention: How to monitor impact, where risks may exist
   
4. Capacity & Access Improvement Payment (£87.6m): Local commissioning implications.
   
5. Out-of-area patient registration safeguards: New oversight requirements
   
6. Ensuring PCNs meet workforce planning expectations.
   
7. ICB responsibility in digital access compliance monitoring.
   
8. Tracking GP workforce expansion under ARRS.
   

FAQs & Myth-Busting: What Every GP Team Needs to Know

Key Focus: Addressing confusion and misinformation about the contract

1. “Does this contract fix the 8am rush?”
   
2. “Are GPs really getting more money – or just more workload?”
   
3. “What happens if a practice can’t meet online booking requirements?”
   
4. “Will cutting red tape actually reduce workload?”
   
5. “How will this contract impact salaried GPs vs partners?”
   
6. “What happens to QOF payments if practices don’t meet new CVD targets?”
   
7. “What are the key risks and opportunities in this contract?”
   

Next Steps & Updates

This page will be continuously updated as more details emerge from NHS England. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest guidance and action points.

What should you do now?

1. Bookmark this page for ongoing updates.
   
2. Review the detailed guides for your role.
   
3. Attend NHS England contract webinars for further clarity.
   
4. Prepare your team for key changes before October 2025.