Northern Ireland: new GP contract and £40m to improve access to appointments

Northern Ireland's Department of Health (DoH) has announced the conclusion of negotiations with the NI General Practitioners Committee (NIGPC). The department says the new contract should ultimately make it easier for patients to get a GP appointment. BBC News Northern Ireland also reported on it, in an article dated 9 November 2026.

How much money is involved

The department says the 2026/27 General Medical Services contract is worth £17.384m in-year. That includes £13.3m of recurring funding for core GP services.

The department has also committed an additional £40m, or £20m a year for two years. This is meant to cover agreed, measurable improvements in patient access and primary care activity.

What the minister says

Health Minister Robbie Butler said difficulty getting a GP appointment is one of the issues people raise with him most often. He stressed that in negotiations he insisted the financial package must deliver more appointments and services for people who need them.

Mr Butler welcomed NIGPC's commitment to making it easier for patients to access general practice. GPs have also committed to taking part in the Neighbourhood Model of Health and Wellbeing. According to the minister, the model brings services together, strengthens care in the community and designs the system around the people who use it.

He also noted that NIGPC has committed to rebuilding a constructive working relationship with the department and to ending the current collective action, a form of protest by GPs.

What this means for you

All registered patients in Northern Ireland use GP services, including people living in places such as Belfast. According to the department, the changes should ultimately shorten the route to an appointment. However, the sources do not say when patients will notice an improvement or how many extra appointments to expect. For now, nothing changes in the rules for registering with a GP.