News » DDA news, England, Rurality » Rural patients "disadvantaged" by new GP contract for England
September 18th 2025
The new GP contract for England is expected to “improve things massively for both GPs and patients, particularly in rural areas,” the House of Lords has been told.
In a debate on changes to the GP contract, health and social care minister Baroness Merron said that the premise of the 10-year plan is to improve patient access and end the 8am scramble.
“In rural areas… people face various challenges in getting around,” she added.
Prompting the response, DDA advisor Baroness McIntosh of Pickering asked the minister what impact the GP contract will impact on rural doctors, particularly those belonging to the DDA. She said: “[They] cannot even access the EPS system at the moment, which is obviously disadvantaging its patients.
