The BMA’s Scottish GP Committee and Scottish Government have agreed a package of funding over 2026-2029 that will see recurrent funding to general practice increase by £250m by 2028/29. This is not a pay deal, but is a separate investment that will provide much needed stability and support to General Practice and restore a substantial amount of lost funding to practices in Scotland.
The largest portion of the funding, worth £148.3m by year three, will be used to improve practice workforce in the face of the pressures practices face. There is also £40m to introduce a system of direct reimbursement of certain non-staff expenses, reducing the risk to practices created by increasing costs.
Reimbursements for locum cover in the SFE will be uplifted and eligibility for reimbursement of locums to cover GP sickness absences will change to be permitted from day one of an absence.
The table below outlines the sequencing of the investment that will be forthcoming:
| Priority | 25/26 (£m) | 26/27 (£m) | 27/28 (£m) additional | 28/29 (£m) additional | Total recurring (£m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce | 35 | 31.6 | 51.7 | 118.3 | |
| Workforce tranche 1 | 15 | 15 | |||
| Workforce tranche 2* | 15 | 15 | |||
| Sickness, maternity etc | 7.5 | 7.5 | |||
| Expenses | 10 | 21.7 | 8.3 | 40 | |
| Premises | 15 | 15 | |||
| Inequalities | 5 | 5 | 10 | ||
| Digital and access | 5.5 | 8.7 | 14.2 | ||
| Quality | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||
| Digital Prescribing | 8.14 | 0.4 | 0.82 | 9.36 | |
| Total and additional funding | 15 | 83.14 | 85.4 | 65.82 | 249.36 |
| Total in-year funding (cumulative) | 15 | 98.14 | 183.54 | 246.36 | 249.36 |
The full details of the agreement that has been reached can be downloaded here.
There is still a lot of further detail that sits below this which remains to be negotiated and further updates will be shared as and when these agreements are reached.
Workforce
By 2028/29, a total recurring £148.3 million is allocated to improve retention and recruitment of the workforce. With record numbers of trainees in the pipeline, this gives us the opportunity to offer careers to those newly qualified as well as address underemployment in the existing workforce. It also allows practices to employ members of the General Practice team such as administrative and nursing staff. However, the fundamental purpose of this money is to improve GP Whole Time Equivalence (GP WTE) across Scotland, enabling safer working and better access and quality of services to the people of Scotland.
The £15 million already made available this financial year will become recurrent with an expectation of quarterly reporting on practice workforce numbers by practices. This improved transparency will grow Scottish Government’s confidence for future investment into General Practice to help deliver the longer terms aims of Service Renewal.
Enhanced Locum Cover
For 2026/27 the Statement of Financial Entitlements to Practices will be amended to support locum reimbursement for sickness from day one of absence. This will help protect services and help boost the locum market. It will also see an overall increase of approximately 28% to the weekly entitlement for sickness, maternity, adoption and paternity leave, rising to circa £2200 per week.
Expenses
Direct reimbursement of non-staff expenses will be introduced in phases, supported with a £10 million investment in 26/27. In future years this will be increased to a total of £40 million. In order to fully cover the liability, there will be some contribution from Global Sum in years to come but we believe this is good value to the profession to mitigate these liabilities.
Premises
The paused Sustainability Loan Scheme will be recommenced with a new fund of £15m from Scottish Government expected to deliver all tranche two loans during 27/28 and 28/29. Remaining tranche one applications will be completed during 26/27.
Digital and Access
Through the deal, £14.2 million will be used to improve digital and access solutions for practices. All practices will be supported to adopt cloud based telephony systems. Data from these systems will be shared with Health Boards to understand flow and demand. All practices will also be enabled to offer DACS (Digital Asynchronous Consultations Systems) for patients but will have control over how they use DACs to avoid any pitfalls which have been seen elsewhere. GMS regulations will be amended so all practices have a contractual obligation to provide online, telephone and walk in access for patients but please be assured that the mix and flow management will remain the discretion of the practice.
Digital Prescribing
This programme will be finalised and delivered using an additional fund of £9.36 million per annum. This will have significant secondary cost savings to practices and patients. It will also be beneficial environmentally, not only reducing paper and toner consumption but a reduction on patient miles, chasing paper prescriptions.
Health Inequalities
A fund of £10 million will assist in addressing health inequalities. We have made it clear, that although welcome, the impact this will have on such a significant challenge within Scotland will be commensurate to the funding. We continue to work with Scottish Government on how we can offer bespoke support to Practices with significant deprivation as well as remote and rural challenges.
Enhanced Services and Seniority
We have agreed with Scottish Government to review the entire Enhanced Service framework across Scotland over the coming years. There is opportunity to use the framework to deliver new services withing General Practice in a fair and equitable manner, as well as offer the bespoke support some Practices require. We have discussed the ability of this Framework to offer a just transition of services into the community and a mechanism by which new asks become routine business in future contractual arrangements.
We have also agreed to review seniority over the coming years, ensuring that we offer a scheme that looks to retain highly experienced GPs and reward their commitment to the service.