GP Make New Contract With Government To Help End 8am Appointment Rush
Patients in England will soon find it easier to book GP appointments online and see their regular doctor under a newly agreed contract between the government and GPs. The deal, announced on February 27th, includes an additional £889 million in funding for 2025-26 and aims to eliminate the "8am scramble" for appointments by requiring GP surgeries to offer online booking throughout the day.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the reforms as the "first step to fixing the front door to the NHS" and "bringing back the family doctor." The contract also cuts unnecessary administrative tasks, removing nearly half of the existing targets GPs must report on. This change is expected to allow doctors to focus more on patient care rather than bureaucracy.
Dr. Amanda Doyle, NHS England’s national director for primary care, emphasized that the agreement represents a major shift in general practice. "This is the first time in four years that the GP contract has been accepted as proposed," she said. The reforms will provide GP practices with more funding and flexibility, including the ability to hire additional healthcare staff.
Despite these changes, some doctors believe more needs to be done. Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA GP committee, acknowledged that while the deal is a step in the right direction, it is "nowhere near a solution." She stressed the need for a completely new national GP contract and long-term funding commitments.
The reforms are part of the government’s broader strategy to modernize the NHS, improve patient access, and ease pressure on other healthcare services. While patients may not see immediate improvements, experts suggest they could begin to notice changes within the next six to twelve months.
