LMC Update – 07 April 2026
National Updates from BMA
Update from GPC England and contract referendum results
Huge heartfelt thanks to all of you who voted in the referendum and spread the word.
The BMA heard you loud and clear: 98.9% of you voted NO, opting to reject the Government’s imposed changes to the 2026/27 contract Read the press release >
GPCE (GPs committee England) met last Thursday following the close of the referendum. In response to the ballot outcome, GPCE members considered the next steps following a letter received at the 11th hour from health and social care secretary Wes Streeting where he indicated a willingness to return to negotiations over a new GMS contract.
GPCE members voted to resume discussions provided that contractual proposals around changes to advice and guidance/advice and refer services were paused, and mitigations put in place around unlimited unsafe same-day urgent care once practices had reached their limits.
Should these not be met by 30 April, GPCE communicated reserving the right to escalate to collective action beyond this date. Read more >
1 April contract changes
The BMA are aware that with 1 April passing, many practices and colleagues are querying what changes need to be put in place. Therefore, they would recommend that practices review and prepare for the implementation of the 2026/27 contract. Under paragraph 57 of Schedule 3 of the GMS regulations, and under paragraph 52 of Schedule 2 of the PMS agreement, practices must have at least 14 days’ notice before variations take effect.
GPCE is developing guidance and ‘Focus on’ documents to support practices in understanding and managing the imposed contract changes. As a reminder, QOF changes are now in place.
The GP contract and campaign page contains the latest updates about the 2026/27 contract changes and the BMA’s dispute with Government, as well as links to guidance to help support you and your practices. Find out what the 2026/27 GP practice contract changes mean for you >
Meeting with secretary of state on 19 March
In advance of the 26 March GPCE meeting, the GPCE chair was invited to meet with the secretary of state on 19 March. In this meeting, the strength of feeling in the committee and wider profession was emphasised. The secretary of state’s previous commitment to a bilaterally-negotiated contract with GPCE was highlighted. Three key priorities for a new GMS contract were outlined:
- to restore the viability and attractiveness of partnerships embedded in the community
- fair remuneration for all GPs
- workload safeguards that keep patients and GPs safe.
The meeting was constructive, with both sides acknowledging the opportunities that this would bring, in addition to the risks should this not be progressed. The committee were updated with regard to the meeting, and next steps were discussed and agreed as outlined in the plan above.
2026/27 GP contract changes webinar recording
The BMA have held webinars where they discussed the new contract and the next steps for the profession. In the last newsletter they shared a recording of the webinar, which has now been updated. Watch the webinar recording >
The BMA know how vital these discussions are to the whole profession, and want your feedback. Contact the BMA at info.gpc@bma.org.uk
DDRB
The Government has accepted the DDRB (Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body) recommendations for a 3.5% uplift in GP pay for the year 2026/27.
This uplift will be applied to Global Sum, raising payments per weighted patient for 2026/27 to £130.07, representing a 5.5% uplift to the 2025/26 figure.
There will be a similar 3.5% uplift applied to locum reimbursements for sickness and parental leave. The final figures will be incorporated into an updated SFE (statement of financial entitlements) anticipated in May 2026, which should also include claim and eligibility details for the practice-based GP reimbursement scheme.
The DDRB uplift also affects PCN funding. ARRS reimbursements will be uplifted in accordance with pay body review recommendations (3.5% for GPs and 3.3% for other staff), and enhanced access funding will also increase to reflect the 3.5% uplift.
The uplift brings total GP contract funding (including core and PCN funding) to just under £14bn for 2026/27.
Currently, GPCE is awaiting confirmation from NHSE that the DDRB uplift will also be applied to education allowances, GP trainer grants, GP fellowship funding, and the GP educator pay scale. The dispensing fee scales will be uplifted as is usual in October 2026.
Read GPCE’s 2026/27 DDRB FAQs >
Read the BMA response to the DDRB >
GP reimbursement scheme
NHSE has begun discussions with the GLD (Government Legal Department) about including the practice-level GP reimbursement scheme within an SFE (statement of financial entitlements) amendment (which is expected this month).
NHSE is aiming for the amendment to come into force from 1 May 2026 but cannot yet confirm this date as the GLD is still considering the complexity of the drafting. NHSE’s intention is that practice claims can be backdated to 1 April 2026 (as per its recent primary care bulletin).
Further details can be found in the BMA’s new ‘focus on’ guidance, which will be updated and reissued as and when new information becomes available.
Read the ‘Focus on…the new 26/27 GP employment reimbursement scheme’ guidance >
Optum (EMIS) dispensing module funding – postponement of changes
GPCE has written to NHS England to raise urgent concerns regarding information received from GP surgeries (who are dispensing practices) using the EMIS Web clinical system. EMIS (Optum) has communicated to all its users that the existing arrangement, under which NHS England has met the monthly charge for the EMIS Web dispensing module, would cease on 1 April 2026. The BMA have asked NHSE to urgently look at this issue and provide financial support for these remote and rural practices providing vital NHS services to their patients.
The BMA have been working with the DDA (Dispensing Doctors’ Association) on this issue, and have just heard that Optum (EMIS) has postponed the introduction of this charge to dispensing practices. They don’t know what the new timelines will be on this and are yet to hear back from the letter they have sent to Amanda Doyle. The BMA will continue to press hard on this issue.
Resident doctors announce strike action
Following weeks of talks with Government, the BMA resident doctors committee has determined that the health and social care secretary’s final offer was insufficient and has announced further strike action in England. The action will run from 7am, 7 April to 6.59am, 13 April. Read more >
This will include GP registrar colleagues. Please note that GP registrars in practices are supernumerary. Read further information regarding GP registrars and strike action >
Read guidance for GP practices, trainers and LMCs about strike action >
BMA submission published: neighbourhood health service – estates inquiry
The BMA’s written submission to the Health and Social Care Committee’s inquiry into delivering the neighbourhood health service: estates has now been published. You can read it in the written evidence section of the inquiry webpage. Explore the inquiry and access the submission >
Advice and guidance media and Parliamentary attention
The imposed GP contract’s advice and guidance/advice and refer have attracted attention in the public with concerns around possible rationing of care, patients’ experiences and delays to treatment. The Government has faced scrutiny in both Parliament and the media on its new advice and guidance policy. There has been much coverage online and across print, with patient stories highlighting the impact this would have on them.
Media articles have reported that GPs are being told to divert one in four appointments despite concerns about patients’ welfare. MPs, including those whom GPCE has met with, such as Liberal
Democrat health spokesperson Helen Morgan and shadow health minister Luke Evans, have raised concerns directly through Parliamentary questions and in the media.
GP wellbeing resources
A range of wellbeing and support services are available to doctors, and the BMA encourage anybody who is feeling under strain to seek support. Please take a moment to check in on your colleagues’ wellbeing and look out for each other.
Support comes in various forms, from our 24/7 confidential counselling and peer support services and NHS practitioner health service to non-medical support services such as Samaritans. The organisation Doctors in Distress provides mental health support for health workers in the UK, and confidential peer support group sessions.
The BMA have produced a poster with 10 top tips to help maintain and support the wellbeing of your colleagues and yourself.
The Cameron Fund supports GPs and their families in times of financial need, whether through ill health, disability, bereavement, relationship breakdown or loss of employment.
The RCGP also has information on GP wellbeing support.
Please visit the BMA’s wellbeing support services page, refer to our extended directory, or call 0330 123 1245 for the counselling line or peer support
Rebuild General Practice is powered by real stories from the frontline
Rebuild General Practice is looking to hear from as many GPs as possible about what’s really happening on the ground and to work with you to bring those experiences into the public conversation. If you’ve seen or experienced something that shows the pressures, challenges, or impact on patients and staff, they want to hear from you! Please reach out to hello@rebuildgp.co.uk to schedule a conversation and pitch those stories (confidentially or non) to media.