News » England, Political News, Rurality » DHSC unveils plans for a new GP contract in England
July 3rd 2025
A new GP contract for England is to be introduced as part of the new 10 Year Health Plan to be announced by the Government later today (Thursday 3 July).
The contract will aim to encourage and allow practices to cover a wider geographical area. Launching the plan, Health Minister Wes Streeting said: “As it stands, some practices are struggling to keep up with an ageing population and 21st century health needs.”
A key tenet of the new 10 Year Health Plan is a new Neighbourhood Health Service. Based in the community with a multidisciplinary team, and open 12 hours a day, six days a week, the service will bring historically hospital-based services into the community - diagnostics, post-operative care, and rehab – as well as services like debt advice, employment support and stop smoking or weight management.
A trial in Derby led to 2,300 fewer Category 3 ambulance callouts and 1,400 fewer short hospital stays among the over 65 population within a year, according to the DHSC.
Further detail is yet to be announced to clarify what support smaller practices in the catchment area will receive to deliver the improved patient access envisaged by the plan. However, additional technology has been promised to support GPs, including AI scribes to manage clinical notetaking, letter drafting, and manual data entry, and digital telephony.
The plan also sets out a vision for 95 per cent of people with complex needs have an agreed personal care plan by 2027.
Commenting on the plans, DDA Chief Executive Matthew Isom said: “Less administration for GPs and more convenient access to a GP for patients are welcome. However, general practice ‘at scale’ in rural areas must take account of dispensing rights and the geographical and connectivity limitations that affect rural areas and their patients. It is worth noting that despite two decades of the EPS in England, there is still no access to this service for rural dispensing patients.”
