Nick Bostock

Patients with strong regional accents can struggle to communicate with an AI reception tool adopted by many GP practices, a health watchdog in South Yorkshire has warned.

Patients can be flagged for removal as potential 'ghosts' even if they have recently had a consultation with their GP practice, NHS England has admitted.

NHS neighbourhoods should be built around existing PCNs and funded through local variation to the network contract directed enhanced service (DES) rather than new standalone contracts, the BMA GP committee has said.

GP partner income in England rose by just 1.1% in real terms in 2024/25 while the rest of the UK saw significantly faster growth, data on GP earnings and expenses show.

Several NHS health systems are tabling bids to vary the network contract directed enhanced service (PCN DES) within the current financial year, with others to follow from April 2027, NHS officials have confirmed.

GP income inequality across England and the UK remains significant and the gap is rising for GP partners. But analysis from GPonline shows that salaried GP income has bucked that trend - and that on some other measures, gaps are narrowing.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools widely used by GPs could miss key information shared by patients in consultations and lead to 'deskilling' of doctors, researchers have warned.

Four in five GPs fear the government's focus on access in general practice has undermined quality and continuity of care, a poll suggests.

NHS leaders have yet to demonstrate that single- and multi-neighbourhood provider contracts are necessary - and the models should be piloted and independently evaluated before rollout, the RCGP has warned.

Neighbourhood contracts proposed as part of the government's 10-year health plan risk undermining natural integration by 'imposing form ahead of function', the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) has warned.