“General practice is the front door to the NHS, and improving timely access to care is central to healthier communities and a sustainable health service. We welcome the 2026/27 GP contract’s strengthened focus on same-day access for urgent needs, increased investment in capacity, and its emphasis on shifting care into the community.
“Placing GPs at the centre of the move from hospital to neighbourhood-based care is the right strategic direction, reflecting the realities of modern population health.
“As an at-scale provider embedded in local communities across the country, we see every day how improved access, proactive identification of risk and digitally enabled triage can transform patient experience and outcomes. In October 2025, we demonstrated that the expectations of the 2025/26 contract could be delivered safely and effectively across all of our practices, with routine digital access maintained throughout core hours, clear triage and safety-netting pathways, and measurable improvements in patient and colleague experience. This early experience underlines that the ambitions of the new contract are achievable in practice.
“We were also early adopters of Advice & Guidance, embedding digital clinical dialogue to ensure patients are seen in the right place at the right time. Alongside our strong focus on continuity - with 6 in 10 GP appointments delivered by the same GP - and equitable access, this demonstrates our ongoing commitment to high-quality, neighbourhood-centred care.
“This contract reinforces the direction of travel towards a more proactive, community-based NHS. We look forward to working with system partners to ensure its implementation delivers measurable improvements in access, experience and long-term health outcomes for the communities we serve.”
Samantha Kane
CEO
Operose Health