Same GP at each appointment for patients most in need

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting called on GPs to end their collective action, work with government and “get the NHS back on its feet”.

He said: “General practice is buckling under the burden of bureaucracy, with GPs filling out forms instead of treating patients. 

“It is clear the system is broken, which is why we are slashing red tape, binning outdated performance targets, and instead freeing doctors up to do their jobs.

“We promised to bring back the family doctor, but we want to be judged by results – not promises. That’s why we will incentivise GPs to ensure more and more patients see the same doctor at each appointment.”

Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, of the BMA, said GP practices across the country had been “frantic with worry” around the impact of the “crippling rise” in national insurance contributions from April.

“Hopefully today’s news provides an important lifeline for our 6,000 plus practices, and we are committed to reaching consensus around the management of the additional business pressures that practices will face in the new financial year,” she said.

She said she hoped the funding announcement “would be looked back on as a positive starting point for an evolving conversation” and looked forward to seeing further details.

The final GP contract will be unveiled in the Spring.