New GP Contract 2026: how it will improve your local GP practice experience

NHS England has publsihed the Changes to the GP Contract in 2026/27 in March 2026.

According to this report, their focus this year is GP capacity, supporting the shift from treatment to prevention, and enabling practices to prioritise clinically urgent needs.

Six key changes for patients summarised by Healthwatch England

1. You should not be told to ‘call back tomorrow’

2. Clinically urgent requests should get a same-day response

3. Online request systems should not cap requests during core hours

4. Practices must clearly show how and when you can contact them

5. Advice and Guidance will be used more often before referrals

6. Registration goes online, and vulnerable people won’t lose their registration

Read more details here: How will the new GP contract improve the experience at your local practice?

Read the full NHS report here: Changes to the GP Contract in 2026/27

Please let us know your thoughts or share your health and social care feedback with us by emailing us at info@healthwatchportsmouth.co.uk.