Emma and Nick talk about the ongoing dispute between the BMA and the government about this year’s GP contract and what the BMA will be asking GP practices to do from 1 June as it steps up collective action. They discuss a vote at the UK LMCs conference earlier this month, which saw LMC representatives back exploring the radical step of moving towards a hybrid NHS/private model for general practice - and the BMA’s confirmation that it plans to ballot the profession on this.

They look at an update NHS England published on the GP contract at the end of last week as well as looking ahead to the government’s new NHS workforce plan, which is expected to be published next month, and what that needs to do to ensure there are enough GPs to meet the demands of an ageing population.

And they talk about the government’s new Health Bill and what that means for general practice - in particular the plans for a single patient record. And we’ll be talking at

This episode is presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower and deputy editor Nick Bostock. It was produced by Czarina Deen

Useful links

BMA sets out next steps as GPs ramp up collective action

BMA to ballot GPs on switch to 'Plan B' semi-private contract

GP leaders vote to explore NHS/private 'dentist model' for general practice

Wes Streeting’s legacy as health and social care secretary

NHS clarifies locum rules on GP reimbursement in contract update

What does the new Health Bill mean for GPs?

GPs should be fastest-growing part of NHS workforce, experts say

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Talking General Practice is looking at the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme - or NNHIP. This is the NHS England and government programme to support the development of neighbourhood health with 43 pioneer sites across England leading the way to test how integrated neighbourhood teams and neighbourhood approaches can better support patients.

To find out what this looks like on the frontline, Emma speaks to leaders from two of those pioneer sites.

Dr Zalan Alam, a GP in Rochdale, discusses his work in intermediate care and the importance of building trust across care boundaries to tackle frailty and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.

Meanwhile, Rachel Stead, strategic PCN manager for South Sefton PCN, shares the success of their innovative adverse childhood experiences programme and highlights the need for infrastructure and funding to ensure neighbourhood working is sustainable for general practice.

Zalan and Rachel discuss the reality of integrated working, what the future could hold, and why general practice must remain the cornerstone of any successful neighbourhood model.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen

Useful links

• As part of the MIMS Healthcare Network, GPonline has produced a new report for our subscribers on neighbourhood health - view the report here.
• National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme website
• Sefton’s adverse childhood experiences programme
• Could new PCN rules make neighbourhood contracts redundant?

MIMS Learning Live

MIMS Learning Live South is returning to London on Friday 12 June 2026, and tickets are free to book.

This is your chance to boost your clinical know-how, connect with peers from across the UK, and gain fresh insights that can make a real difference in your patients’ lives. This year’s clinical programme covers issues including obesity management, paediatrics, women's health and cardiology.

We’re also running a GP Business hub stream aimed at GP partners, practice managers and PCN managers, which will cover practice finance, neighbourhood working, using AI in practice and how to meet the challenges of rising patient demand.

Get your tickets here www.mimslearninglive.com/south

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The GPonline team talks about collective action, after the BMA GP committee narrowly voted in favour of the move, what that action involves and what needs to happen to resolve the dispute.

They look at the practice-level reimbursement scheme for GPs, how that is going to work and some of the issues and challenges the scheme could present.

And they discuss some late changes to the network contract DES - the contract that governs how primary care networks work - which will allow ICBs to introduce local variations to help develop neighbourhoods and what that could all mean in practice.

In our good news story this week, Emma reflects on a conference on tackling health inequalities she attended this week and the great work going on in many local communities.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower, deputy editor Nick Bostock and senior reporter Kimberley Hackett. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

BMA lays out collective action roadmap and escalation plan

Will GPs unite behind collective action?

NHS Modernisation Bill to introduce single patient record

Practice-level GP reimbursement scheme limited to salaried GPs

Restrictive GP contract changes 'will not boost access'

Could new PCN rules make neighbourhood contracts redundant?

PCNs should refuse contract variations if work is not properly funded, says BMA

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.