GPC England's LMC Update: 20 February 2026

5 days ago
7 min read

Dear colleagues

General Practice: Critically Endangered, Facing Extinction

The Government has indicated they will share their final positions on the 2026/27 GP contract changes in England next week and we await the details of this. It is vital they recognise the critical situation we face with increasing workloads, stretched finances and an exhausted workforce. In the meantime the BMA has just published a 30-minute podcast where the GPC England Chair, Dr Katie Bramall, and I, Dr David Wrigley, talk about where we are at the moment in general practice and the real challenges we're facing as a profession. We hope you find it an interesting listen as we talk through some topical issues.

Listen to the podcast >

Read the transcript

We have also created two bite‑sized briefings on what we need to see from NHS England to fill the vacuum around ‘Neighbourhoods’ as well as expanding on the themes we covered with our profession being critically endangered, and facing extinction:

GPC England will meet on Thursday Feb 26th to scrutinise the contract, then debate and vote on the offer from Government. We are undertaking some further webinars where we will discuss the new contract and what the next steps are for the profession. You can use the links below for these.

Thursday 5 March, 12-1:30pm – register here
Tuesday 10 March, 7-8:30pm – register here
Wednesday 18 March, 12-1:30pm – register here

We know how vital these discussions are to the whole profession, we want your feedback and to bring you along with us so please feed in any queries you have to info.gpc@bma.org.uk

Thank you.

Parliamentary Health and Social Care Select Committee submission

The BMA has submitted written evidence to the ‘Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry into delivering the neighbourhood health service: estates inquiry’. The response outlines our recommendations and concerns including views on the NHS ten-year health plan, ensuring that GP premises are supported to meet future patient need. We also explain our concerns regarding the use of private finance initiatives within the NHS and the importance of appropriately resourcing general practice. We will share a copy of our submission once it has been published by the committee.

Refresh of the ‘Pressures in General Practice’ webpage

The BMA has produced a new page analysing the current state of general practice in England. Drawing on the latest workforce and appointment statistics, it highlights how rising patient demand, shrinking GP workforce and workload pressures are affecting GP services; from longer waits to increased use of urgent care. It also explains how insufficient core GP contract funding and limited infrastructure are hindering recruitment, creating the paradox of GP underemployment despite high demand.

Update on your pension and missing records

In April 2025, the BMA submitted a freedom of information request to the NHS Business Service Authority (NHS BSA) asking how many GPs in England had missing years of pensions data in their records - shockingly, it revealed that it was 56%. The BMA re-submitted the same request in January, with the hope that the meetings with NHS BSA, PCSE & the DHSC would improve the situation. We are disappointed that 51 % of the current cohort in the scheme still don’t have an up-to-date record.

Not having an up-to-date pension record makes it impossible to plan for your retirement and assess your immediate pension tax position. The BMA is here to help our members engage with relevant parties effectively, and you can use the BMA’s step by step campaign to get your pension record up to date. The guide includes templates to use at each stage and guidance on when you can escalate your query to appropriate bodies to seek financial compensation.

GPC England regional representative elections

Hillingdon/Brent & Harrow/Ealing, Hammersmith & Hounslow
Lewisham, Southwark & Lambeth/Bexley & Greenwich/Bromley
Cheshire/Mid Mersey
Northumberland/Newcastle & N Tyneside/Gateshead & S Tyneside/Sunderland
Gloucestershire/Avon
Wiltshire/Dorset
Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire
Berkshire/ North & East Hampshire
Barnsley/Doncaster/Rotherham/Sheffield
Leicestershire & Rutland/Northamptonshire
North Yorkshire/Bradford
North Staffordshire/South Staffordshire/Shropshire
Sandwell/Walsall/Wolverhampton/Dudley

The term for these roles will run from the conclusion of the ARM in July 2026 until July 2029. Due to changes in BMA rules some longstanding committee members may not be eligible to run or only be eligible to hold the role for one or two sessions. To stand for election you must be a member of the BMA, work in the constituency for which you are standing, and be one of the following:

· a GP engaged in providing NHS primary medical services for at least two sessions a week;

· employed as a medically qualified secretary of an LMC;

· a GP employed under the doctor’s retainer scheme;

· a GP whose medical commitment is to provide NHS primary medical services, currently unable to secure more than two sessions a week, with the intent to increase sessions if become available

Nominations are now open and will close at noon Friday 13 March 2026 – go to elections.bma.org.uk

If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact elections@bma.org.uk.

Pharmacy services microsite for patients

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) has developed a small ‘micro’ website to provide information to patients on three CPCF (Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework) services and directing them to the NHS website search functionality should they wish to identify a pharmacy to access a service. This is intended to address concerns that some websites providing similar information for patients only direct them to a limited list of pharmacies providing the services. The microsite also contains information for patients on their right to choose which pharmacy they use for the provision of services.

Online 113 form

The DWP has contacted GPCE to note that they are aware of a significant fraud risk associated with the online ESA113 form (for healthcare professionals to fill in if DWP asks for information in connection with Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit). They have checked and the total number of downloads in the 12 months to 30 September 2025 was only 1,261 i.e. about 100 a month and therefore DWP will ask for it to be removed from GOV.UKand also remove the reference to it in the introductory notes of the paper version of the 113.

Improving the nation’s diet: the impact of ultra-processed food

A new BMA report Improving the nation’s diet: the impact of ultra-processed food has been published, which examines the consequences of harmful dietary patterns, including rising consumption of UPFs (ultra processed foods) and calls for measures to protect the health of the population. Read more here

Employment Rights Act 2025

The latest reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025 took effect on 18 February, rolling back much of the restrictive Trade Union Act 2016. Changes include extending strike mandates to 12 months, reducing strike notice periods to 10 days, simplifying ballot rules, strengthening dismissal protections, and scrapping picket supervisor requirements. Further information on the Government’s timetable for reform is here. Critically, scrapping the arbitrary 50% turnout threshold and introducing e-balloting have been delayed until at least August 2026. The BMA will continue to hold Government to account for the timely delivery of these commitments.

Evaluation of the NHSE Record a Vaccination Service (RAVS) team support for GP nurse vaccinators

NHSE’s Record a Vaccination Service (RAVS) team intends to approach a number of provider groups, including GP nurse vaccinators, over the coming weeks to evaluate how effectively RAVS supports them in delivering infant vaccinations with a focus on:

Giving vaccinations
Recording vaccinations
Sharing vaccination records across organisations

They anticipate that the opportunity will be communicated via the primary care newsletter and/or the practice manager mailing list.

This is voluntary user research only – there will be no contractual, performance or assurance implications. Findings will be anonymised and used solely to inform improvements to the digital service.

Chaperone guidance

Concerns have been raised about NHSE’s recent guidance on Improving chaperoning practice in the NHS, based on GMC guidance on Intimate examinations and chaperones. We have previously identified this as a significant challenge for doctors. This is covered in the BMA’s Core Ethics Guidance in Sect. 2.5.

How to get the most out of the LMC Support Network

· Join the LMCSN WhatsApp group - an opportunity to share questions/thoughts/peer support.

· Use the web forum for discussions

· Share service level agreements for locally commissioned services

· Share any documents/templates/posters/videos so that they can be hosted on the website

· Come to virtual monthly LMCSN meetings

To share materials or ideas/comments etc, please email admin@lmcsn.co.uk or visit www.lmcsn.co.uk

GP wellbeing resources

A range of wellbeing and support services are available to doctors, and we encourage anybody who is feeling under strain to seek support. Support comes in various forms, from the BMA’s 24/7 confidential counselling and peer support services and NHS practitioner health service to non-medical support services such as Samaritans. The organisation Doctors in Distress provides mental health support for health workers in the UK, and confidential peer support group sessions.

The Cameron Fund supports GPs and their families in times of financial need (through ill health, disability, bereavement, relationship breakdown or loss of employment). The RCGP also has information on GP wellbeing support. The BMA has produced a poster with 10 top tips to support wellbeing.

Visit the BMA’s wellbeing support services page or call 0330 123 1245 for the counselling line.

- The BMA’s GP campaign webpage

- GPCE Safe Working Guidance Handbook

- Read more about the work of GPC England and practical guidance for GP practices

- See the latest update on X @BMA_GP and read about BMA in the media