Podcast – Practice Index – The GP Contract & What It Means for Practices

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of the 2026/27 GP contract for general practices, focusing on funding and operational challenges.

In this week’s episode, brought to you in partnership with Practice Index, we welcome back podcast regulars Claire Houston & Robyn Clark to unpack the realities of the 2026/27 GP contract and what it means for general practice. Claire & Robyn share practical insights into how practices are managing rising expenses, the limitations of current funding allocations, and the increasing challenge of balancing demand with limited resources. They also reflect on wider system issues, including the sustainability of general practice, the risks of shifting workload without adequate funding, and the growing tension between policy expectations and operational reality. Introduction & Sponsor (0:09) Immediate Impact of Contract Changes (2:00) Capacity & Access Funding Changes (9:30) Barriers to Recruitment & Delivery (10:30) Advice & Guidance Changes (17:16) Referral Management & System Pressures (19:09) QOF & Childhood Immunisations Update (24:23) Support Available via Practice Index (26:42) To visit the Practice Index website, click here or contact James Dillon here . For all enquiries about the Ockham podcast, please contact Ben Gowland here . The post…

People in this episode

Host: Ben Gowland

Guests: Claire Houston, Robyn Clark

Topics covered

• GP contract
• general practice
• funding challenges
• healthcare sustainability
• workload management

Keywords

• GP contract
• Practice Index
• funding
• general practice
• healthcare
• workload
• sustainability

Sponsors

Practice Index

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Ockham Healthcare

More episodes of The General Practice Podcast

• Podcast – Robert McCartney – Single Neighbourhood Provider Contracts: What PCNs Need to Do Now · June 1, 2026 · 33 min
• Podcast – Sian Stanley – Can General Practice Lead System Transformation? · May 18, 2026 · 27 min
• Podcast – Sarah Coope – Managing Conflict in General Practice: A Practical Framework for Leaders · April 13, 2026 · 25 min
• Podcast – Tara Humphrey – From Networks to Neighbourhoods · March 23, 2026 · 28 min
• Podcast – Practice Index – Breaking Down the 2026/27 GP Contract · March 9, 2026 · 29 min
• Podcast – Freddie Charrington – From Problem to Platform: Building ‘Dispensary Market’ · February 23, 2026 · 19 min