383 - NHS Primary Care Bulletin - 2 April 2026

Introduction

This article summarises the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin for 2 April 2026, the weekly email update for teams in general practice, dentistry, community pharmacy, and optometry.

This week focuses on key updates related to the 2026/27 GP contract, changes to the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service, and a meningococcal disease outbreak linked to the University of Kent. Additionally, there are important notices regarding upcoming webinars and educational resources for healthcare professionals.

Changes to the 2026/27 GP contract

The GMS Statement of Financial Entitlements (SFE) for the 2026/27 GP contract has been published. Global Sum payments have increased from 1 April to £130.07 per weighted patient, reflecting the recommendations from the DDRB. This increase enables a 3.5% pay uplift for salaried and contractor GPs and facilitates pay rises for other practice staff. General practice contractors are expected to implement these pay increases in line with the additional funding received. Relevant documents including the SFE and DES Directions have been made available.

Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service

A new specification for the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service has been created, effective from April 2026. This document outlines the arrangements for primary care networks (PCNs) and includes details about the 2026/27 GP contract. More information can be found in the letter to general practice and PCNs.

Meningococcal disease outbreak update

The recent outbreak of meningococcus B cases in Kent has seen a peak, and thanks have been expressed to primary care teams for their prompt action. A reminder that general practices can offer MenB vaccinations on request, with an Item of Service fee of £10.06 available for each administered vaccine. This directive is retroactive to 19 March 2026. An operational note regarding waiving prescription charges for Ciprofloxacin due to the outbreak has also been circulated.

Upcoming industrial action by resident doctors

The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced strike action by resident doctors from 7 April to 13 April. There is potential for GP registrars to participate in this industrial action, and patients are urged to seek appropriate services during this period. Resources regarding NHS preparations for industrial action are available for reference.

Same-Day Access webinar recording

NHS England previously hosted a webinar aimed at general practices to support the requirement for dealing with clinically urgent patients on the same day. The recording can be accessed through the Future NHS platform.

Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme

Commencing 7 April 2026, eligible individuals can begin booking appointments for the spring COVID-19 vaccine, with vaccinations starting from 13 April. Relevant resources to encourage participation are available through the Campaign Resource Centre, which includes communication assets.

Webinar on breast cancer diagnosis

GatewayC is hosting a free, CPD-accredited webinar on 22 April, titled 'Supporting earlier breast cancer diagnosis and managing mastalgia.' The session will feature Clare Garnsey, a Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, and will offer valuable insights into breast cancer presentations and management. Participants can register here.

Smaller pack size for Spikevax

A new smaller 10-dose pack of Spikevax is available for order starting 7 April. This new supply option aims to facilitate easier access for healthcare providers and comes with updated provider guidelines, which can be viewed here.

NHS App update webinar

An update regarding the NHS App will take place on 30 April from 11:30 to 12:30. Participants can expect an overview of national activities supporting health equity and updates on app functionalities. For participation details, please visit this link.

Heritage and Social Prescribing e-learning

A new e-learning module focusing on connecting people to heritage projects for health and wellbeing has been launched. The training is designed for Social Prescribing Link Workers and is available for free. More information can be found here.

Upcoming events

Several upcoming webinars and events are scheduled:

• 14 April, 2–3.30pm: NHS England and City of London Police Cyber Griffin Primary Care Cybersecurity webinar Cyber Baseline

• 15 April, 11–12.30pm: Growing Occupational Health and Wellbeing – National Learning Session

• 22 April, 12:30 – 1:15pm: GatewayC webinar on managing mastalgia

• 30 April, 11.30 – 12.30pm: NHS England NHS App webinar

• 6 May, 10.30 – 12pm: AI Ambassador Network meeting

• 10–11 June 2026: NHS ConfedExpo

For those who missed recent national webinars, slides and recordings can be accessed here.

Content in this article is drawn from the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin. Patient.info edits and formats the updates to provide a clear, accessible archive for professionals. For the original email, visit this link.