New GP Contract to Boost Online Booking and Reduce Red Tape
Patients in England will soon find it easier to book GP appointments online and request to see their regular doctor, thanks to a new contract agreement between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government.
The deal, which includes an extra £889 million in funding, aims to reduce administrative burdens, increase patient access, and improve GP services. A key goal is to eliminate the early morning “8am scramble” for appointments, which has long been a source of frustration for both patients and healthcare professionals.
What Changes Are Coming for GP Practices?
The 2025/26 GP contract, agreed upon by NHS England and the BMA GP Committee, will introduce several reforms to improve access and efficiency in primary care.
Key Reforms Under the New Contract:
✔ More Online Booking Options – Patients will be able to arrange appointments online throughout the working day, helping free up phone lines for those who need them most. (NHS England)
✔ Increased Funding – The contract includes a 7.2% funding increase, with nearly £800 million allocated to cover rising operational costs such as staff wages, maintenance, and patient demand. (GOV.UK)
✔ Greater Flexibility in Workforce Recruitment – GP surgeries will have more flexibility in hiring different types of healthcare staff, including General Practice Nurses (GPNs) under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS).
✔ Higher Payments for Childhood Vaccinations – GPs will receive additional funding to deliver routine childhood immunisations, helping improve vaccination uptake rates. (BMA)
✔ Reducing Bureaucratic Targets – The Government has pledged to cut “box-ticking targets”, allowing GPs to focus on patient care rather than excessive paperwork.
Ending the ‘8am Scramble’ – How Will This Work?
For years, GP surgeries have been overwhelmed by early morning phone calls as patients rush to secure same-day appointments. Many practices open their phone lines at 8am, leading to long wait times and frustration when appointments are quickly booked up.
The new contract aims to change this by:
- Expanding online booking availability
- Allowing surgeries to prioritise patients based on medical need
- Keeping phone lines free for urgent cases
While some surgeries already offer call-back services and online triage, this contract will standardise these options across all GP practices in England.
Government and BMA Reactions to the Deal
Government Perspective
Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, described the deal as a “first step” in fixing primary care services:
“This government is cutting the red tape that ties up GPs’ time and backing them with an extra £889 million next year. In return, more patients will be able to request appointments online and see their regular doctor for each appointment.”
The reforms align with the Labour Government’s manifesto pledge to bring back family doctors and make GP access more efficient.
BMA’s Response
The BMA GP Committee Chair, Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, welcomed the funding boost but stressed that more long-term changes are needed:
“We have shown that we want to work in good faith with this government and build on this new beginning – what we now need is certainty about our collective future.”
She also highlighted the need for a fully revised GP contract, urging the Treasury to commit to long-term funding plans in the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.
What Happens Next?
- Spring 2025 – The Treasury will announce new NHS funding plans for this parliamentary term.
- October 2025 – All GP practices must implement online booking availability throughout working hours.
- Further negotiations – The BMA will push for a new national GP contract within this parliament.
Conclusion
The new GP contract represents a significant investment in primary care reform, tackling key patient frustrations like long waiting times and restricted appointment booking options.
However, with GP workforce shortages and rising patient demand, further system-wide reforms may still be needed to ensure long-term sustainability.
At Celsus Group, we stay ahead of policy changes affecting primary care and offer expert recruitment and advisory services to help GP practices navigate these changes.
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