LMC Update – 28 March 2025
Cambs LMC Virtual Open Meeting – Tue 29 April 2025 
Save the date for our next virtual open meeting where we will be delivering a 2025/26 National Contract and Local Commissioning Arrangements Briefing.
Registration and joining information is to follow
GPC England receives commitment to full renegotiation of a new GP contract
On the 27th February GPC England (GPCE) voted to accept the 2025/26 contract changes contingent upon written assurance to the profession from the Secretary of State Wes Streeting around a new substantive GP practice contract being negotiated in this parliamentary cycle.
Last week BMA received the Government’s commitment, in writing:
“to working with the GPC England to secure a new substantive GP contract within this Parliament, without preconditions, based on collaborative work, and in the spirit of mutual trust and good faith, with general practice at the heart of a neighbourhood health service”. Read the letter >
This means that BMA can now fully accept the 2025-26 contract changes. Online contract webinars and guidance are being developed to help support practices and GPs in better understanding what these changes will mean. BMA will be sharing more guidance and FAQs about the 2025/26 contract very soon.
GPCE believes that the 2025/26 agreement and written government commitment to the negotiation of a new GP contract, are important first steps of a longer journey of recovery and rebuilding of trust. BMA hopes that this signals the start of a relationship reset, where the Government is listening to GPs’ concerns and acting on them.
GPC England met on 20 March, where next steps on key aspects of the 2025/26 contract were discussed and it looks forward to working with the Government on a new substantive contract to provide hope, safety, and stability, for our patients, staff and the future of general practice: enabling the return of the family doctor.
BMA offers sincere and deep thanks to everyone who has helped by their efforts in taking collective action. Without you and your hard work this would have not been possible. Many of the items on the collective action menu are superseded by the 2025/26 contract. BMA will be focusing on what is needed locally and strongly recommend practices follow safe working guidance.
Practices are advised to continue to engage with their LMCs and negotiate and secure appropriate resourcing to support the delivery of safe patient care, helping to stop patients falling through gaps in local commissioning.
These 2025/26 changes represent an important first step towards the recovery of General Practice services in England and set us on a path towards making NHS general practice once again the jewel in the NHS crown.
Read the press statement and watch Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer’s speech to conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEr6bHnHjMM
Declaration of completion for ‘simpler online requests’ in the 2024/25 PCN DES
As part of collective action, GPC England has previously advised practices and primary care networks (PCNs) to defer signing up to the 2024/25 PCN DES (Directed Enhanced Service) CAIP (Capacity and Access Improvement Payment) voluntary incentive component – “simpler online requests”, which requires PCN member practices to enable patient access for e-consultations with the intention of this being available throughout core hours.
Now that agreement has been reached on the 2025/26 GMS and PCN DES contracts, BMA advises PCNs and practices with outstanding claims for this component of the CAIP incentive, if they wish to accept this requirement, to submit their claim ahead of the March 31st 2025 deadline.
As per the DES Specification a PCN “can notify the commissioner at any time prior to 31 March 2025” and following receipt of the CAIP payment form, the commissioner will arrange for payment of the relevant amount for that part of the CAIP, representing the full years’ payment in such a case.
BMA continues to encourage practices to follow existing GPC England Safe Working Guidance. Further information pertaining to the PCN DES for 2024/25 can be found here.
GP Contract Webinars
Register below to hear the GPC England Officer team update on the new 2025/26 GP contract changes. There will be an opportunity for Q&A. Please see dates and times with registration links below:
- Wednesday 9 April 19:00-21:00 Register here
- Thursday 10 April 12:00- 14:00 Register here
- Wednesday 23 April 19:00-21:00 Register here
- Thursday 24 April 12:30- 14:30 Register here
Read more about the contract changes and webinars here: GP contract 2025/26 changes
Parliamentary Activity
National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Bill: The National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Bill, which will enshrine into law the increases to NICs, was debated in the Lords on 25 February. During the report stage of the Bill a Liberal Democrat amendment to exempt the health sector from NICs hikes, which included GP practices, was passed.
However, when the Bill returned to the Commons, they Commons voted to reject the Lords’ amendment, meaning that GP practices and other healthcare providers will continue to face increased employer NICs. The Bill will now go on to complete its final stages.
Meetings: Last week GPCE met with Dr Luke Evans MP, Shadow Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to discuss current issues impacting GPs, the discussion included funding, GP unemployment the NICs Bill, ARRS, workload pressures and general challenges facing GPs and practices.
Sessional GPs Committee Elections
The Sessional GP Committee (SGPC) has opened voting for 16 elected members of the committee. Election counting rules will be applied to ensure that a candidate will be elected from each of the committee’s thirteen regions. The committee’s regions are based on the BMA’s ten English regional councils, in addition to one representative in each of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Voting will close at 12pm on Monday 14th April 2025. For more information on these elections, please visit the BMA Sessional GP Committee webpage.