Talking General Practice

BMA England GP committee chair Dr Katie Bramall speaks to Emma about the 2026/27 GP contract and the BMA’s referendum on the deal, which launched this week.

Katie explains why she thinks the 2026/27 contract is a bad deal for general practice and some of the problems around same-day access, advice and guidance and practice funding.

She talks about what happens if GPs reject the deal in the referendum, which may mean the profession begins taking action from as early as 1 April. Katie raises the prospect of a ballot on more serious action that could put practices in breach of their contract later in the summer if there is no movement from the government on the contract.

She also talks about the government’s plans for a neighbourhood NHS and how this will affect general practice and explains new BMA guidance on what practices and GPs should be doing now.

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

Useful links
BMA briefing paper on neighbourhoods

What's in the GP contract for 2026/27?
GP referral change revealed as NHS plays down same-day access impact
Viewpoint: Why mandatory advice and guidance risks a patient safety fiasco
Why the 2026/27 contract risks increased financial pressure for practices
MIMS Learning Live Digital 2026

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.