Changes mean a historic shift in general practice - Nuffield Trust

Responding to the announcement of NHS England’s new contract for general practice, Nuffield Trust Chief Executive Nigel Edwards said:

“This new contract is a radical step. GPs will be able to offer a much wider range of services, and this should help relieve some of the pressure they are under. It is likely to lead to a historic move away from GPs as freestanding small businesses. We’re pleased this is being done through the carrot, not the stick.

“We need to hear more about where these staff are coming from – after all, many other parts of the NHS have their own serious shortages. It’s still not clear what is happening to GP and practice staff pay, but this will be a vital question. National and local NHS leaders will also need to make sure they support these networks so that they can handle new responsibilities and funding on this scale.”