GP mental health service funding extended to 2029

The national GP mental health support service will be funded for a further three years to 2029, a health minister said today. 

Responding to a question on funding, NHS Practitioner Health health minister Karin Smyth said ‘work is being completed to re-commission this service for the next three years’. 

The self-referral service, available to healthcare staff in England and regulated NHS and care staff in Scotland, receives £7m funding annually. 

It offers treatment for a range of mental health and addiction issues, supporting health professionals to remain in or return safely to work. 

The service saw 6,339 registrations in 2024/25, 39% of whom were from GPs, according to Practitioner Health data. 

Responding to the question from Cat Eccles MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Healthcare Workers, Ms Smyth said: ‘Looking after the mental health of our hardworking National Health Service staff is a priority for the Government. 

‘The National Staff Mental Health Treatment Service currently supplied by NHS Practitioner Health is funded until March 2026, and work is being completed to re-commission this service for the next three years, aligned to the Multi-Year Spending Review, from 2026 to 2029. 

Tom Reynolds, director of policy and communications for medical defence organisation the Medical Defence Union, hailed the extension and the service’s ‘overwhelmingly positive impact’. 

He said: ‘We are absolutely delighted that the Government has announced its commitment to ensure its future for a further three years. 

‘NHS Practitioner Health has had an overwhelmingly positive impact and provides a vital service to healthcare professionals in England who need specialist help and may struggle to access support elsewhere.  

‘This is so important as the demands of working for the NHS can be immense, and healthcare workers face many challenges which may impact their personal health and wellbeing. 

‘The NHS, regulators like the GMC, and all those involved in the delivery of healthcare must play their part in taking care of the people who care for us.’ 

Last year, Pulse revealed NHS England had extended the Practitioner Health contract by a year after plans to cut funding were criticised by the BMA and Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK).

Last month, a GMC survey found GPs continue to struggle with their workload more than other doctor groups. 

The annual survey on the state of medical education and practice in the UK found 44% of GPs are struggling with workload, compared with just 29% of respondents overall. 

And a training survey from the doctor regulator found GP trainers respond more negatively for burnout-related questions, despite fewer being deemed at ‘high risk’ of burnout overall. 

Pulse has approached DHSC for comment.