National Policies / Procedures
Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS)
Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) Contracts allow NHS England to commission primary care services. This includes essential, enhanced and additional services from a wide range of providers, e.g. private health companies and social enterprises. Useful Guidance Links: GPC BMA -...
Doctors Whose Performance Gives Cause for Concern
Sometimes concerns are raised about a doctor's performance, either by colleagues, patients or the general public. NHS England has responsibility for ensuring that GPs on the performers list are safe to practice and maintain high professional standards (see Statutory Procedures). If you have...
Enhanced Services
Directed Enhanced Services (DES) are nationally negotiated services, which are over and above those provided under GMS/PMS/APMS contracts, which the ICB (delegated by NHSE) are obliged to commission. Directed Enhanced Services in 2023/24 Network Contract (PCN) - Documents covering this DES...
General Practice Contract
The New General Medical Services (nGMS) contract 2003 'investing in General Practice' known as 'the blue book', was agreed in 2003 and implemented in 2004. It was a three-year contract that has seen considerable changes and enhancements year on year since then. GMS Contract Details of the...
General Practice Forward View & Sustainability and Transformation Plans
General Practice Forward View (April 2016) GPs and practice teams provide vital services for patients. They are at the heart of our communities, the foundation of the NHS and internationally renowned. But services are now under unprecedented pressure and, as set out in the NHS Five Year...
Good Practice Guidelines for GP Electronic Patient Records
The links below give useful guidance on all aspects of GP electronic records, produced by the NHSE, in conjunction with RCGP and BMA: Good Practice Guidelines for GP Electronic Patient Records, Version 5
Informatics - General Practice Profiles
PHE National General Practice Profiles These profiles are designed to support GPs, primary care networks (PCNs), clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authorities to ensure that they are providing and commissioning effective and appropriate healthcare services for their local...
Medical Records - Handling and Retention
For definitive advice on records retention please click here: Medical Records Code of Practice 2021 (updated Aug 2023) GMC Good Medical Practice requires that: 'you keep clear, accurate and legible records, reporting the relevant clinical findings, the decisions made, the information given to...
NHS.UK - Responding to Negative Feedback
Negative comments posted on the NHS.UK website. . . GPC has been made aware that there is some confusion concerning the procedures in place when a practice receives notification of negative comments posted on the NHS.UK website. To clarify. . . Practices are notified of a comment pertaining...
Out of Area Registrations and In Hours Urgent Primary Medical Services (Enhanced Service)
Choice of GP Practice NHS England released guidance on the new out of area patient registration (choice of GP practice) arrangements in November 2014, click here to access this. What does this actually mean? Within the guidance was issued it identified 2 elements to this scheme which...
Regulations
NHS England GP Contract documents Global sum allocation formula - a reminder from the BMA how funding for GMS practices is calculated using the Carr-Hill formula, and what is taken into account. GMS Contract 23/24 Update to GP Contract 23/24 Please click here to view our dedicated page...
Summary Care Record (SCR)
What is Summary Care Record NHS Digital has information here Summary Care Record The SCR is intended to support patient care in urgent and emergency care settings. The SCR stores a defined set of key patient data for every patient in England, except those who elect not to have one. This data...
Vaccines and Immunisations - Guidance for Practices
Page Contents Vaccinations and Immunisation Programme GP Collections Timetable Immunisation Schedules Public Health Contacts for Imms and Screening SCID, BCG and Rotavirus Patient Group Directions HPV Vaccination Guidance for Healthcare Practitioners Travel Vaccinations Childhood...