Pulse in Focus Podcast: Changes introduced by the GP contract

In the latest episode of Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs, senior Pulse journalist Maya Dhillon is joined by Anna Colivicchi, deputy news editor, and Dr Keith Hopcroft, GP and editorial adviser, to analyse and explain the changes introduced by the 2026/27 GP contract.

The trio go through all the major headlines – including new same-day requirements around ‘clinically urgent patients’, a shift in funding for a new practice-level recruitment scheme, and mandated collaboration between practices and ICBs.

Anna and Keith discuss the absorption of advice and guidance (A&G) from an enhanced service into the core contract, contemplating how this ‘blurs’ the line between GP and specialist remit; and how this will work in practice.

The discussion comes as NHS England’s national director for primary care Dr Amanda Doyle wrote exclusively for Pulse, explaining their rationale for the move.

Keith also provides a handy overview of the changes to QOF, including the addition of two new obesity indicators and the provision of ‘improvement incentives’ for childhood vaccination rates.

Pulse in Focus: The Podcast for GPs is hosted on Buzzsprout but you can find it wherever you get your podcasts. Listen to the full episcode here.

Pulse provides an indispensable and comprehensive range of trusted content that meets the needs of all GPs, through its political and financial news, cutting-edge investigations, clinical updates or practical business advice. Last month, the podcast explored the the GP contract negotiations and whether GPs should lower elderly antibiotic prescribing threshold.