The BMA’s GP committee for England (GPC England) has overwhelmingly voted to reject the Government’s unrealistic and unsafe plans to impose changes to GP practice contracts, calling for the Government to directly negotiate a new practice contract with the committee.

GPC England chair Dr Katie Bramall said:

“The ‘open-floodgates’ strategy which has been drowning general practice since October is not going away – the Government is doubling down and turning general practice into a digital-first, patients-last, unsafe primary care model where the result is a far poorer patient experience. 

“General practice is critically endangered, facing extinction: patient list sizes compared with GP numbers are still dangerously high; continuity of patient care is rapidly declining; and we have lost over 6,000 (around 28%) of the GP partners who actually run practices since 2015. Government must work with us to bring general practice back from the brink of extinction; this contract will not do that. No more empty words. No more broken promises - it’s time for action. 

“GPs are hardworking, dedicated professionals, but we are not magicians. We can’t bend the rules of physics and provide unlimited same-day urgent care as well as unlimited planned and routine care, all whilst hospital trusts are enabled to reject our referrals so that we are trying to manage the impossible and unsafe. Premises are outdated and crumbling, demand is spiralling out of control without the workforce or resource to support it, and despite Government rhetoric we are drowning in bureaucracy. GPs are in despair, uncertain how on Earth they can achieve the Government’s unrealistic expectations and fear this contract will drive away more experienced GPs increasing the risk of further practice closures. 

“Unless we see the Government return to the negotiating table and enter into serious one-to-one negotiations over a new contract with GPCE - as promised repeatedly by Secretary of State Wes Streeting - to restore the viability of partnerships and practices, deliver safe working practices for patients and fair remuneration for all GPs, the profession will be left with no alternative but to escalate to action to protect ourselves and our patients.” 

From 4 March to 25 March, GPC England will hold a referendum of all GPs and GP Registrars across England on the changes imposed from 1 April. 

GPC England will ask its members if they accept the Government’s changes or if they want them to return to direct negotiations with BMA leaders to jointly develop a new practice contract that restores the viability of GP partnerships, provides fair remuneration of all GPs and implements workload safeguards to keep patients and practice staff safe. 

Notes to editors

• BMA response to 2026/27 GP practice contract
• Latest update from the BMA on the GP practice contract
• Government press release: Better access to GPs with same-day appointments for urgent care - GOV.UK

Changes to the GP contract include the following:  

• Ensure unlimited same-day patient access for patients with clinically urgent needs 
• Forbidding practices from capping online consultation requests – even when they’re full 
• Use of advice and guidance will become contractual. This is where hospital specialists may be forced to limit accepted referrals and instead reject and return them to GPs with ongoing guidance to manage patients in the community unless they deteriorate further, to improve waiting lists. 

The questions put to the committee were: 

Do you accept the imposed DHSC/NHSE GP contract changes for 2026/27?  

Yes - I accept the Government’s changes to 26/27 GMS and PMS contracts.  

Or 

No - I reject the Government’s 26/27 GMS and PMS contract changes, and its approach to making them, and call upon the Government to return to direct negotiations with GPCE to jointly develop a new GMS contract for all that restores the viability of partnership, provides fair remuneration for all GPs and implements workload safeguards to keep GPs and patients safe. 

Do you also want to put the above question about the contract changes to the profession via a referendum? 

Yes 

No 

Abstain 

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.