The proposed changes form part of the Government’s Plan for Change aimed at revitalising the NHS and focus on increasing funding and reducing outdated targets.
They are currently under consultation with the British Medical Association’s General Practice Committee.
Daniel Francis, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, said: “When I knock on doors in Bexleyheath and Crayford, I hear time and time again the difficulty that residents have in making a GP appointment and how important the front door to our NHS is to them and their families.
“I promised residents in Bexleyheath and Crayford that we would help bring back the family doctor and I’m delighted to see proposals that would deliver on that promise.”
These changes will allow doctors to spend more time treating their patients rather than dealing with paperwork.
The proposals include a substantial increase in funding for general practice, with an additional £889 million being added to the current budget.
This is the largest boost to GP funding in years.
They also aim to eliminate unnecessary performance targets, cutting down on bureaucracy, and thus freeing up more time for doctors to see their patients.
This will benefit patients in Bexleyheath and Crayford, especially those with complex needs, long-term conditions, or the elderly, who would benefit from more continuous care.
These changes are part of a new GP contract for 2025/26, which is currently being reviewed by the British Medical Association’s General Practice Committee.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “General practice is buckling under the burden of bureaucracy, with GPs filling out forms instead of treating patients.
“It is clear the system is broken, which is why we are slashing red tape, binning outdated performance targets, and instead freeing doctors up to do their jobs.
“We promised to bring back the family doctor, but we want to be judged by results – not promises.
“That’s why we will incentivise GPs to ensure more and more patients see the same doctor at each appointment.
“Through our Plan for Change, we are acting to fix the front door to the NHS and we have already started hiring an extra 1,000 GPs into the NHS.
“We are proposing substantial additional investment and greater flexibility to employ doctors so patients get better care.
“I call on GPs to now work with us to get the NHS back on its feet and end their collective action.”