A final agreement on the Welsh GP contract has been reached, delivering a full 4% pay uplift for GP partners, salaried GPs and practice staff for 2025/26, in line with recommendations made earlier this year by the independent pay review body.
The final GMS contract deal for 2025-26 is worth £41.9m, comprising £37.9m in new investment and £4m reinvested in additional capacity funding. The funding will be backdated to April 2025.
As well as settling the current financial year, the agreement includes commitments for 2026/27.
This includes a recurrent expenses uplift of 5.8% for 2026/27, worth around £30m, to help practices manage rising costs. A further recurrent £20m has also been agreed to support immediate stabilisation and preparation for the next phase of service reform.
The expenses uplift for 2026/27 is intended to give practices greater financial stability amid rising costs, while supporting their role in the NHS Wales transformation agenda. Investment is earmarked for additional workforce capacity, service transformation and administrative support.
The Welsh GP contract deal was backed unanimously by the GPC.
Dr Gareth Oelmann, chair of GPC Wales, said the ‘improved and credible settlement’ agreed with the Welsh Government and NHS Wales followed ‘extensive negotiations’.
‘This agreement begins to address the significant pressures facing surgeries and recognises the hard work and dedication of GPs across Wales.
‘Throughout negotiations, we highlighted the significant financial challenges facing general practice in order to secure a better settlement. This agreement ensures proper investment in the contract for the next financial year,’ he said.
The BMA said the agreement does not preclude further investment following the Welsh Government’s consideration of the DDRB’s recommendations for 2026. The union also said that work will continue to scope a review of the global sum funding allocation formula.
Health Secretary Jeremy Miles said the investment demonstrated ‘our unwavering commitment to general practice in Wales’.
‘By providing multi-year funding certainty, we’re enabling practices to plan for the future with confidence and invest in the transformation our primary care services need. This agreement supports our community-by-design programme, which will reshape services around local needs and help deliver more care closer to home,’ said Mr Miles.
He added: ‘We have agreed to increase the partnership premium, recognising the vital role GP partners play in leading resilient practices.
‘This will directly support the retention of experienced clinicians, making partnership more attractive and sustainable. By investing in our leaders, it will help to secure continuity of care and strengthen the future of general practice for communities across Wales.’
