The 2026/27 Network Contract DES introduces major changes to ARRS, including the removal of eligibility restrictions for GPs, significant increases in reimbursement ceilings, and new flexibility to recruit non‑direct patient care roles. Financial entitlements rise modestly across core funding, Enhanced Access, ARRS, and Care Home Premiums. PCNs will be required to align their footprints with neighbourhood health boundaries in limited cases, and practices must now risk‑stratify patients for continuity and participate in the GP Staff Survey. The Capacity & Access Payment is replaced with a new practice‑level GP reimbursement scheme. Access requirements remain unchanged, with same‑day responses still mandated for clinically urgent patients.
Area | 2025/26 Position | 2026/27 Position | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARRS GP Eligibility | Only GPs within 2 years of CCT eligible | Any GP eligible if not employed in Core Network Practice in last 12 months | Major expansion |
ARRS GP Max Reimbursement | £82,418 salary / ~£105,882 incl. on‑costs | £118,759 salary / £152,900 incl. on‑costs | Significant uplift |
| ARRS Role Flexibility | Fixed list of roles | PCNs may add non‑direct patient care roles with commissioner approval | New flexibility |
| ARRS Total Funding | £26.631 per adjusted population | £27.668 per adjusted population | +3.1% uplift |
| Core PCN Funding (fixed) | £2.266 per patient | £2.311 per patient | Uplift |
| Enhanced Access | £8.427 per adjusted patient | £8.903 per adjusted patient | +5.6% uplift |
| Care Home Premium | £130.253 per bed | £133.158 per bed | Small uplift |
| IIF | 58 pts × £198 | 58 pts × £198 | No change |
Capacity & Access Payment | £292m fund for access improvement | Replaced with practice‑level GP reimbursement scheme | Structural change |
PCN Footprint Alignment | No requirement | Must align with neighbourhoods (limited cases) | New contractual requirement |
Continuity Risk‑Stratification | Not required | Required | New requirement |
| GP Staff Survey | Not contractual | Contractual | New requirement |
ARRS funding continues into 2026/27, including support for GPs recruited in 2024/25 and 2025/26.
Restrictions limiting ARRS GP reimbursement to newly qualified GPs are removed. Any GP is eligible if they have not been substantively employed in a Core Network Practice in the previous 12 months.
Maximum reimbursable GP salary increases from £82,418 (2025/26) to £118,759 (2026/27) (or £120,921 in London). With on‑costs, the total ceiling is £152,900 (£155,698 London).
PCNs may now recruit additional non‑direct patient care roles from ARRS if agreed with commissioners — a new provision for 2026/27.
All ARRS role reimbursement ceilings increase.
The £292m Capacity & Access Payment is replaced with a new practice‑level GP reimbursement scheme from 1 April 2026.
PCNs will be contractually required to adjust their footprints where they do not align with neighbourhood health boundaries.
NHSE states this will apply only in “limited cases” and is not intended to trigger widespread reconfiguration.
Practices must risk‑stratify patients for continuity of care.
Participation in the General Practice Staff Survey becomes contractual.
Key uplifts include:
Core PCN funding increases (e.g., fixed component from £2.266 to £2.311 per patient).
Enhanced Access rises from £8.427 to £8.903 per adjusted patient.
ARRS total sum increases from £26.631 to £27.668 per adjusted population.
Care Home Premium increases slightly.
IIF remains unchanged at 58 points × £198.
Clinically urgent patients must continue to receive an appropriate same‑day response (appointment, clinical enquiry, or signposting).