BMA to be joined by other stakeholders in GP contract negotiation shake-up

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By Erin Dean

NHS England will consult with other stakeholders alongside the BMA in a significant change to the negotiation of the next GP contract.

The shake-up to the process, which is normally just between the BMA general practice committee England (GPCE) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), will allow a “wider range” of groups to be involved, officials said.

NHS England has confirmed that that as well as the GPCE, it will also involve the Royal College of General Practitioners, the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC), Healthwatch England, National Voices and the NHS Confederation.

The BMA said it was a "departure" from the usual approach.

GPCE chair Katie Bramall said: “We are confident there will be more consensus across various primary care stakeholders than the government perhaps realises, and this provides an excellent opportunity for mutual collaboration.”

But GPCE deputy chair David Wrigley lashed out at government, describing the move as “shocking”. In a post on X, he said that it was an attempt to “side line” the union.