Recruitment of 1,000 GPs by March 2025

Reminder for PCNs to use their GP Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme funding in 2024/25

In October 2024 changes were made to the Network Contract DES specification to allow Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to claim reimbursement for recently qualified GPs via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) for the remainder of 2024/25. Additional funding of £82 million has been made available to allow PCNs to employ over 1,000 additional GPs.

The Secretary of State and NHS England took this action to remove the red tape preventing PCNs from hiring doctors after listening to the concerns of frontline GPs. This is an important first step to increasing GP employment in the long term, and critically, helps practices provide more appointments for our patients.

Many PCNs have already begun to use the GP ARRS funding to recruit GPs which is helping to resolve the issue of GP unemployment amongst recently qualified GPs and improve care for patients. However, we have heard that uncertainty over whether GP ARRS funding will continue in 2025/26 has been a barrier for some PCNs in undertaking recruitment of recently qualified GPs.

On the 20 December 2024 the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care wrote to all GP practices in England regarding the proposed funding uplift for General Practice in 2025/26 and to provide reassurance that this additional GP ARRS funding will continue into 2025/26.

We are encouraging all PCNs to use their GP ARRS funding entitlement in 2024/25 to recruit recently qualified GPs.

We are monitoring the data on the number of GPs recruited and will be asking regions and ICBs to work with those PCNs who have not yet taken advantage of the GP ARRS funding and to provide support where required.

PCNs who have not yet claimed reimbursement for a recently qualified GP in 2024/25 are asked to set out their recruitment intentions for the remainder of the financial year to their ICB by 31 January 2025. ICBs stand ready to advise PCNs on any concerns or questions they have.

General practice teams, and wider primary care, are working incredibly hard right now to care for patients in difficult circumstances.

We are grateful for your continued dedication, with so many of you routinely going above and beyond for patients. Please do make use of this opportunity to deliver more appointments for our patients and more job opportunities for GPs.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Amanda Doyle,
National Director for Primary Care and Community Services,
NHS England

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