NHS Primary Care Policy & Contract Library
The key NHS documents for general practice, in one place
The policy and contract documents that govern general practice are scattered across NHS England, GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk and NHS Digital — and they move. This page keeps the 52 documents a practice or PCN team actually needs in one organised, checked list: what each one is, when it was published, and which Arjus dashboard helps you act on it.
Every link on this page was last verified on 17 Aug 2026.
Recently published or updated
- Standard general medical services (GMS) contract — 23 Jul 2026
- Standard general medical services (GMS) contract variation notice — 23 Jul 2026
- Standard personal medical services (PMS) agreement — 23 Jul 2026
- Standard personal medical services (PMS) agreement variation notice — 23 Jul 2026
- Standard alternative provider medical services contract — 23 Jul 2026
| Document | Category | Publisher | Published | On Arjus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Standard alternative provider medical services contract
This is the standard 2026/27 APMS contract, needed by commissioners and providers agreeing alternative provider medical services arrangements for general practice.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 23 Jul 2026 | |
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Standard alternative provider medical services contract variation notice
This is the 2026/27 contract variation notice for APMS contracts, needed by GP providers and commissioners managing alternative provider medical services agreements.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 23 Jul 2026 | |
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Standard general medical services (GMS) contract
The standard GMS contract for 2026/27, setting out terms for GP practices delivering general medical services under NHS England.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 23 Jul 2026 | |
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Standard general medical services (GMS) contract variation notice
This is the 2026/27 GMS contract variation notice, detailing changes GP practices and commissioners must implement under the standard contract.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 23 Jul 2026 | |
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Standard personal medical services (PMS) agreement
Standard PMS agreement template for 2026/27, defining contractual terms for GP practices operating under personal medical services arrangements.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 23 Jul 2026 | |
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Standard personal medical services (PMS) agreement variation notice
Standard variation notice for PMS agreements for 2026/27, needed by GP practices and commissioners updating PMS contract terms.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 23 Jul 2026 | |
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Screening and vaccinations trust framework for NHS employees
A framework standardising NHS occupational health screening and vaccination requirements for staff, relevant to trust managers and occupational health teams.
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Workforce & ARRS | NHS England | 22 Jul 2026 | |
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Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) Directions
Legal directions setting out the framework governing APMS contracts in general practice, for commissioners and providers involved in APMS arrangements.
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Contract & Funding | DHSC | 17 Jul 2026 | |
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JCVI statement on meningococcal B vaccination in older children and young adults, 16 July 2026
JCVI recommendation on meningococcal B vaccination for older children and young adults, relevant to immunisation planning and general practice.
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Prescribing & Pharmacy | DHSC | 17 Jul 2026 | |
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QOF business rules v51 (2026/27)
The technical extract specifications, change log and cluster list behind 2026/27 QOF searches and payment extraction.
This link may have moved — it is being re-checked.
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QOF | NHS England | 17 Jul 2026 | |
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A consultation on proposed Multi-Neighbourhood Provider (MNP) and Single Neighbourhood Provider (SNP) contracting models to support neighbourhood health services – high level summary
A consultation summary outlining proposed MNP and SNP contracting models for commissioning neighbourhood health services, relevant to GPs and local commissioners.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 16 Jul 2026 | |
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A consultation on proposed Multi-Neighbourhood Provider (MNP) and Single Neighbourhood Provider (SNP) contracting models to support neighbourhood health services – technical detail to support answering the consultation questions
Technical detail supporting an NHS England consultation on new MNP and SNP contracting models for neighbourhood health services, relevant to ICBs, GPs and PCNs.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 16 Jul 2026 | |
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General practice patient list validation
An NHS England letter explaining the patient list validation programme and FP69 processes for GP practices, PCNs and ICBs managing patient registrations.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 10 Jul 2026 | |
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Preventing unlawful access to patient records
NHS England guidance for trusts, staff and IG professionals on preventing, detecting and responding to unlawful access to patient records.
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Digital & IT | NHS England | 8 Jul 2026 | |
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Flu Vaccination Programme 2026/27
NHS England letter setting out 2026/27 flu vaccination programme targets and actions for ICBs, trusts, GP practices and pharmacies.
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Planning Guidance | NHS England | 2 Jul 2026 | |
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National review of clinical risk management standards DCB0129 and DCB0160: supporting information
Background and consultation supporting information on the national review of clinical risk management standards DCB0129 and DCB0160 for health IT manufacturers and care organisations.
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Digital & IT | NHS England | 29 Jun 2026 | |
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General Medical Services Statement of Financial Entitlements Directions
The consolidated SFE Directions 2026 (plus 2026 amendments) setting out every GMS practice payment in legal form.
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Contract & Funding | DHSC | 24 Jun 2026 | |
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NHS App resources for GP practices
Guidance, training and promotional materials for practice staff supporting patients using the NHS App.
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Digital & IT | NHS England | 24 Jun 2026 | |
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Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework 2026/27
The agreed 2026/27 pharmacy contract settlement, including Pharmacy First integration and NHS-funded independent prescribing.
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Prescribing & Pharmacy | DHSC | 29 May 2026 | |
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Supplementary information to support changes to the 2026/27 GP contract
Implementation guidance on the Practice Level GP Reimbursement Scheme (which replaces the PCN Capacity and Access Payment), same-day urgent access and other 2026/27 requirements.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 20 May 2026 | |
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GP Contract 2026/27 financial information (GMS and PCN income ready reckoner)
Hosts the 2026/27 GMS and PCN income ready reckoner and GP Reimbursement Scheme materials for estimating practice and network funding.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 1 May 2026 | |
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Primary Care (GP) Digital Services Operating Model (v6)
The current GP IT operating model setting policies, standards and responsibilities for ICB-commissioned digital services.
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Digital & IT | NHS England | 1 May 2026 | |
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Network Contract DES variation from May 2026 (explanatory note)
Explains the May 2026 DES variation, including ICB local-variation powers and ARRS transition flexibilities.
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PCN / Network Contract DES | NHS England | 30 Apr 2026 | |
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Neighbourhood health centre guidance for regions and ICBs
April 2026 guidance on neighbourhood health centres with general practice at their core; the current direction for primary care estate transformation.
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Premises | NHS England | 16 Apr 2026 | |
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Network Contract DES: contract specification 2026/27 - PCN requirements and entitlements
The legally binding DES specification setting out PCN and practice requirements and entitlements for 2026/27, incorporating the May 2026 variation.
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PCN / Network Contract DES | NHS England | 26 Mar 2026 | |
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Network Contract DES guidance 2026/27 - Part A: clinical and support services
Clinical guidance supporting delivery of the DES section 8 services.
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PCN / Network Contract DES | NHS England | 26 Mar 2026 | |
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Network Contract DES guidance 2026/27 - Part B: non-clinical
Non-clinical DES guidance covering payments, ARRS administration and participation mechanics for PCN managers.
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PCN / Network Contract DES | NHS England | 26 Mar 2026 | |
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Quality and Outcomes Framework guidance for 2026/27
Definitive guidance for interpreting and verifying 2026/27 QOF indicators, including the new MMRV, diabetes 8-care-process and obesity indicators (updated July 2026).
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QOF | NHS England | 26 Mar 2026 | |
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Recording GP appointments - consolidated guidance (GPAD)
Consolidated guidance on mapping appointment slots to national categories, settings and modes so GPAD data is recorded accurately.
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Access & Appointments | NHS England | 11 Mar 2026 | |
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Changes to the GP Contract in 2026/27
The definitive summary of 2026/27 contract changes: funding uplift, QOF reform, same-day urgent access and the new practice-level GP Reimbursement Scheme.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | 24 Feb 2026 | |
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Capital guidance 2026/27 to 2029/30
Multi-year capital framework including ringfenced primary care and GP IT capital and strategic estates investment routes.
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Premises | NHS England | 11 Feb 2026 | |
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Online consultations - FAQs and support resources
Explains the contractual requirement (from 1 October 2025) to keep online consultation tools open throughout core hours, with implementation FAQs.
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Digital & IT | NHS England | 14 Jan 2026 | |
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Medium Term Planning Framework 2026/27 to 2028/29
The three-year planning framework replacing annual planning guidance, setting the priorities that reach practices through ICB plans.
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Planning Guidance | NHS England | 24 Oct 2025 | |
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Advanced Telephony Better Purchasing framework
Framework and buyer guide for practices, PCNs and ICBs procuring assured cloud-based telephony systems.
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Digital & IT | NHS England | 23 Sep 2025 | |
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NHS Pharmacy First Service - advanced service specification
Specification for Pharmacy First clinical pathways and the referral routes practice teams use when signposting patients.
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Prescribing & Pharmacy | NHS England | 23 Sep 2025 | |
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Modern general practice model
The framework for aligning access channels, care navigation and capacity that practices are expected to adopt. Its three parts - better digital telephony, simpler online requests, and faster navigation, assessment and response - are meant to move together; changing one alone usually just relocates the queue.
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Access & Appointments | NHS England | 1 Aug 2025 | |
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10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future
The ten-year NHS strategy behind the hospital-to-community, analogue-to-digital and sickness-to-prevention shifts shaping neighbourhood health.
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Strategy | DHSC | 3 Jul 2025 | |
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Online access to new GP health record information
Guidance on the contractual duty to give patients prospective online access to their GP record, including safeguarding and redaction.
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Digital & IT | NHS England | 14 Mar 2025 | |
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Guide to the changes to primary care premises policy
Plain-English guide to the 2024 Premises Costs Directions covering grants, leases and financial assistance.
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Premises | NHS England | 11 Nov 2024 | |
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NHS (GMS - Premises Costs) Directions 2024
The current statutory directions governing NHS premises payments to GP contractors: notional rent, reimbursements and improvement grants.
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Premises | DHSC | 9 May 2024 | |
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NHS Long Term Workforce Plan
The national train-retain-reform workforce plan to 2036/37; context for practice and PCN workforce planning.
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Workforce & ARRS | NHS England | 30 Jun 2023 | |
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Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care
The joint NHS England / DHSC plan to end the 8am rush through the Modern General Practice Access approach.
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Access & Appointments | NHS England | 9 May 2023 | |
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Next steps for integrating primary care: Fuller stocktake report
The foundational report on integrated neighbourhood teams and streamlined access within integrated care systems.
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Strategy | NHS England | 26 May 2022 | |
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The NHS (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2015
The statutory framework for PMS agreements in England, current revised version.
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Contract & Funding | legislation.gov.uk | 1 Nov 2015 | |
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The NHS (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015
The statutory framework underpinning GMS contracts in England, in its current revised form.
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Contract & Funding | legislation.gov.uk | 1 Oct 2015 | |
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GP Contract (NHS England hub)
NHS England hub linking every contract document, guidance note and funding resource from 2015/16 to 2026/27.
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Contract & Funding | NHS England | — | |
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Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT)
The portal for the annual DSPT self-assessment every GP practice must complete. In practice the work is evidence-gathering rather than technical: most of a submission is showing that policies, training records and asset lists already exist and are current.
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Digital & IT | NHS England | — | |
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Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (documents hub)
Hub for the current DES specification, guidance parts and network agreement templates.
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PCN / Network Contract DES | NHS England | — | |
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Primary care networks (NHS England hub)
Central PCN hub linking the Network Contract DES, workforce resources, development support and case studies.
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PCN / Network Contract DES | NHS England | — | |
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Drug Tariff
The monthly Drug Tariff setting reimbursement and remuneration rules; essential for dispensing practices and prescribing leads.
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Prescribing & Pharmacy | NHSBSA | — | |
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Expanding our workforce (ARRS hub)
ARRS home page covering the reimbursable roles and workforce development resources; the operative 2026/27 ARRS rules sit in the DES specification and Part B guidance.
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Workforce & ARRS | NHS England | — | |
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Primary Care Workforce Portal (ARRS claims)
The mandatory portal where PCNs submit and review monthly ARRS reimbursement claims. Worth reconciling the submitted figures against your own payroll each month: the portal is the record ICBs pay from, not a copy of it.
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Workforce & ARRS | NHS England | — |
All documents listed here are published by and remain the property of their respective publishers (NHS England, DHSC, NHSBSA, The National Archives). Links point to the official source. This page is a signposting aid, not legal or contractual advice — always rely on the original document.
The summaries, categorisation and choice of documents on this page are written and maintained by Arjus and are © Arjus Ltd. Use them, quote them with a link back, put them in your own practice papers — all fine. Reproducing them in another site, product or publication needs permission first: see the terms of use, or just ask.