Stephen Kinnock on the 2026/27 GP contract: ‘We know funding alone is not enough’
Addressing Pulse readers exclusively, primary care minister Stephen Kinnock gives the Government’s take on the 2026/27 GP contract
General practice is not just the front door of the NHS – it is its foundation.
GPs are at the centre of our vision for a health service that is there for people when and where they need it. And that is why we have placed you at the heart of the 10-Year Health Plan.
The new GP contract for 2026/27, backed by £485m of funding, reflects this Government’s genuine commitment to general practice.
This brings the total increase in primary care spending under this government to £1.6bn over two years. This is real investment in the services that matter most to patients.
But we know funding alone is not enough.
We want to work alongside GPs as true partners in transforming the NHS.
The shift from hospital to community that we are committed to delivering cannot happen without you leading it.
Neighbourhood health services, continuity of care, early intervention; none of that is possible without a thriving general practice at its core.
The new contract addresses something this Government takes seriously – skilled GPs unable to find sufficient work while patient demand goes unmet.
Expanding ARRS to include experienced GPs, with nearly £300m of existing funding now ringfenced for recruitment, means we can make better use of the workforce we have and improve access for patients at the same time.
I also want to take a moment to thank GPs for their hard work already underway. The rollout of online requests has been a genuine step forward, giving patients easier access and helping practices manage demand more effectively. Patient satisfaction is rising after a decade of decline; a direct result of your hard work and professionalism.
We know the pressures you face, and we are not asking you to do more with less. We are backing you; with funding, with workforce support through ARRS and a new practice-level GP recruitment reimbursement scheme, and with a contract shaped by your input. This is a collaboration, and we are committed to getting it right together.
Stephen Kinnock is minister for primary care
Read all of our coverage of the 2026/27 contract here.
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READERS' COMMENTS [6]
Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles
What a load of absolute nonsense, re-using the same funding that practises largely depend on leaves a big hole Stephen.
Remove capacity and access funding practices rely on to… provide capacity and access.
Say you can use this now but only to provide additional GP capacity – effectively is a funding cut because you’ve lost the above funding for your current staff.
Then link this to huge additional expectations/pressure on the practices.
I suspect any funding increase will be taken up plugging this gap, and paying for inflationary staff pay rises/premises costs etc.
Bla bla bla
Not sure where the GP input is in producing this contract. Picking pockets and then gifting it back with specific caveats is not increased funding it is no more than a confidence trick 😡
This is gaslighting. Recycling money, adding a whole host on (impossible) demands without adding any significant extra funding and selling it as some kind of great thing for GPs is super dishonest.
That’s it….. seriously Stephen Kinnock
New contract £1.50 per patient per year after inflation and staff costs removed.
Average practice £15k to invest in what … a new front door… overtime for staff…. a locum session or two.
This is now hospital to community and is a smaller uplift % than the rest of DHSC.