Can the NHS win GPs over on advice and guidance, plus GP partnership fears

About this episode

The episode discusses NHS England's clarification on GP referrals, new BMA guidance, GP partnership concerns, and a positive story about a practice in North Yorkshire.

In our regular news review, the GPonline team talks about advice and guidance after NHS England was forced to clarify that there was no national target for diverting GP referrals.  They also look at some new guidance from the BMA on advice and guidance and whether GPs have been involved locally with the development of controversial single point of access systems that NHS England say will overhaul referrals. They discuss the state of the GP partnership after a private company, Operose Health, approached GP partners with the offer to ‘liberate them’ from the pressure of running a practice. And there’s a brief look ahead to the UK LMCs conference, which starts on 13 May. Our good news story this week is about a practice in North Yorkshire that has been saved from closure. 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 Can NHS England bring GPs on board with advice and guidance reforms? NHS rules out 'national target' to cut GP referrals in advice and guidance update BMA hails progress in talks with DHSC as GP collective action deadline nears Private…

People in this episode

Hosts: Emma Bower, Nick Bostock, Kimberley Hackett

Topics covered

• NHS advice and guidance
• GP referrals
• GP partnership
• healthcare news
• BMA guidance
• NHS reforms

Keywords

• NHS
• GP referrals
• BMA
• Operose Health
• North Yorkshire
• healthcare
• GP partnership
• advice and guidance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NHS England, BMA, Operose Health

Places: North Yorkshire

More episodes of Talking General Practice

• Lessons from a pioneering practice on making neighbourhood health work · May 8, 2026 · 33 min
• Why more research should happen in general practice - and how to get involved · April 24, 2026 · 29 min
• Why experienced GPs are leaving the NHS, spiralling GP workload, collective action · April 17, 2026 · 28 min
• Improving perinatal care and the role of primary care · April 10, 2026 · 34 min
• What happens now GPs have rejected the contract, plus will GP pay rise by 3.5%? · April 3, 2026 · 34 min
• RCGP registrar co-chairs on the jobs crisis, the future of GP training and IMG GP visas · March 27, 2026 · 33 min