Health Minister Robbie Butler stated that the newly agreed contract will ultimately make it easier for patients to secure appointments. The agreement forms part of broader reforms intended to enhance the patient experience within General Practice, with a specific focus on preventative care and community-based services.
The Department has committed to releasing an additional £40m over the next two years. This funding is designed to cover agreed measurable improvements in patient access and primary care activity, enabling increased capacity across general practices.
The 2026/27 General Medical Services Contract represents the first year of a three-year programme. The initial phase prioritises stabilisation before shifting towards transformation in the subsequent years, with the long-term aim of developing a reformed contract structure to support general practice into the future.
Welcoming the successful conclusion of negotiations between the Department and the NI General Practitioners Committee, the Minister praised the GP representatives for their constructive engagement throughout the process. The total in-year value for the 2026/27 contract is worth a further £17.384million.
This figure includes £13.3 million of recurrent funding directed into core GP services. Other elements of the deal include improvements to locum reimbursement arrangements and revised childhood vaccination arrangements intended to provide additional incentives for practices to help improve vaccination uptake.
The investment in the GMS Contract should be viewed within the wider context of the Department's commitment to primary care services. This includes a £61m Transformation Fund investment in the Primary Care MDT Programme spanning a five-year period.
Media enquiries regarding the matter can be directed to the DoH Press Office via e-mail at pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.