CCGs to identify GP practices eligible for additional funding

NHS England has published guidance for CCGs directing them to identify 'atypical' practices that are 'unavoidably small and isolated' or have high numbers of patients who do not speak English, to receive additional funding above and beyond their GMS contract allocation.

In the guidance, NHS England maintained that ‘there are some practice populations that are so significantly atypical that using the GMS funding formula would not ensure the delivery of an adequate general practice service', including 'unavoidably small and isolated' practices, university practices, and practices with 'a high ratio of patients who do not speak English'.

It suggested that such practices could potentially be supported via 'a bespoke enhanced service', or 'added formally into a PMS agreement’.

Local commissioners should examine factors such as: average population density and average distance from patient residences; ambulance response times; whether the practice provides additional or extra services that are not additionally funded; and whether the practice income adequately covers the cost of providing services when comparing practice data.