New contract agreed to improve GP appointment access in Northern Ireland

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 15:58 · Archive

The Department of Health has agreed a new contract with general practitioners worth an additional £40m over two years to improve patient access.

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has agreed a new contract with general practitioners, funded by an additional £40m over two years. Health Minister Robbie Butler said the deal should make it easier for patients to get GP appointments, an issue he described as one people raise with him most frequently.

The 2026/27 General Medical Services Contract agreed between the department and the Northern Ireland General Practitioners Committee is worth £17.384m in-year value. Of this, £13.3m represents recurrent funding into core GP services. The funding is designated for improvements in patient access and primary care activity.

Robbie Butler said in a statement: "Difficulties getting an appointment with their GP is one of the issues people raise with me the most, which is why during negotiations I have been very clear that the financial package must deliver more appointments and services for people who need them."

The agreement marks a resolution to recent tensions between GPs and the Department of Health. Last year, GP partners in Northern Ireland voted in favour of taking collective action as part of their campaign for increased funding for general practice. Butler said he welcomes the General Practitioners Committee's "commitment to rebuild a constructive working relationship with the department and to end the current collective action".

As part of the deal, the General Practitioners Committee has committed to taking part in the Neighbourhood Model of Health and Wellbeing, which aims to establish a neighbourhood-centred health and social care system across Northern Ireland.

How it is being reported

• £40m boost for GP services in bid to deliver more appointmentsGPs have said an extra £80million is required to stabilise general practice services in the regionBelfast Live · 9 Nov, 16:31
• £40m boost for GP services in bid to deliver more appointmentsBelfast Telegraph · 9 Nov, 15:25
• New contract will make it 'easier' to get GP appointmentsThe Department of Health (DoH) said it will give an additional £40m across two years for "improvements in patient access and primary care activity".BBC Northern Ireland · 9 Nov, 00:00
• New deal with GPs should make it easier to get appointments, says Health MinisterPatients should find it easier to get appointments with their doctors after a new contract was agreed with GPs, the Health Minister has said.News Letter · 8 Nov, 17:48

In this story: Department of Health · Robbie Butler · Northern Ireland General Practitioners Committee · Northern Ireland

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