Government ‘smashing through’ ARRS GP target, Streeting claims

The health secretary has claimed that the Government is ‘smashing through’ its target to recruit 1,000 extra GPs through the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS).

Wes Streeting cited new NHS figures that show cumulatively 2,533 GPs (by headcount) have been claimed for by PCNs through the scheme between October 2024 and September 2025.

However, the same data also shows that as of August 2025 – the most recent month for which the data is reliable – the number of GPs being funded through the ARRS was 1,665 GPs in total, or 1,098 FTE GPs.

It also reveals that since last October, the fully-qualified FTE workforce rose by just 2% – or 550 – while the number of FTE GP partners fell 3.4% over the same period, from 15,897 to 15,353.

The Government achieved its aim of 1,000 FTE GPs being employed through the ARRS in March this year, and FTE and headcount numbers have remained stable since.

Mr Streeting said: ‘In under 18 months we recruited over 2,500 GPs – smashing through our promise of 1,000.’

He added that the £1.1bn invested in general practice has meant ‘more patients will be able to see their same doctor each appointment… and we’re introducing online booking requests to end the 8am scramble. 

‘For the first time ever, more patients are contacting their practice online than over the phone, and patient satisfaction is increasing for the first time in a decade. A lot done, a lot more to do.’

But senior policy fellow at the Health Foundation Dr Luisa Pettigrew told Pulse that the figures may present a ‘misleading picture’ of workforce capacity.

She said: ‘These statistics reflect headcount rather than full-time equivalent (FTE) GPs and do not account for those leaving the profession.

‘As a result, they fail to capture the net change in the GP workforce. The figures also fail to account for population growth, which is essential when assessing healthcare capacity.

‘To accurately reflect changes in the GP workforce, the data should report the number of fully qualified FTE GPs per person, or the number of patients served per FTE GP, as this would be more meaningful.’

Earlier this month, the RCGP launched an open letter, which has gained more than 3,500 GP signatures, urging the Government to ring-fence funding for unemployed and underemployed GPs ‘at all career stages’ as part of the anticipated new 10-year workforce plan for the NHS.