From April 2026, the Capacity and Access Improvement Payments (CAIP) have been replaced by a new national GP Reimbursement Scheme. This change moves funding control from PCNs back to individual practices, allowing contractors to claim directly for salaried GP costs under clear eligibility and additionality rules. Practices can continue CAIP‑funded posts by claiming reimbursement through the new Section 14A provisions, ensuring local flexibility while maintaining accountability for patient access and workforce expansion.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is now approved by NICE for obesity, but it is not yet commissioned as a LES in Doncaster. This means GPs currently cannot prescribe it for weight management, even though the new QOF obesity indicators require shared decision‑making about available treatments. Practices should continue to meet QOF requirements through accurate BMI coding, timely referrals to local weight‑management services, and documented discussions that note tirzepatide exists nationally but is not accessible locally. The LMC will update practices as soon as commissioning changes.
The 2026/27 QOF update continues the drive toward simplification and personalised care. Indicators are streamlined, thresholds adjusted, and new Quality Improvement modules introduced to strengthen continuity, access, and health equity. With long‑term condition management still central, the framework aims to reduce administrative burden while supporting proactive, patient‑centred care across general practice.
The 2026/27 Network Contract DES marks a significant shift for Primary Care Networks, expanding ARRS flexibility, increasing GP reimbursement ceilings, and introducing new requirements for continuity and neighbourhood alignment. With modest funding uplifts and a repurposed Capacity & Access scheme, the update aims to strengthen collaboration and sustainability across general practice while maintaining the focus on timely, patient‑centred access.