378 NHS Primary Care Bulletin - 26 February 2026

Introduction

This article summarises the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin for 26 February 2026, the weekly email update for teams in general practice, dentistry, community pharmacy, and optometry.

The latest bulletin highlights several updates, focusing on changes to the GP contract for 2026/27, broadening the urgent care commitment in dentistry, and initiatives related to the Red Tape Challenge aimed at reducing bureaucracy within healthcare systems.

GP contractual changes for 2026/27

NHS England has provided clarity on the contractual arrangements for the upcoming fiscal year, which aims to enhance the delivery of services in general practice. The initiatives include increasing GP capacity and shifting focus towards preventative care, with the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) being revised accordingly. An investment increase of £485 million is expected for the 2026/27 GP contract, marking a 3.6% cash growth.

A webinar discussing these changes is set for 5pm on 2 March, where participants can submit questions in advance by using the pre-webinar question submission form.

Improve awareness of screening tests for you and your baby

Resources have been made available to enhance awareness regarding maternity screening tests. Practices are encouraged to download promotional materials, including posters and videos, which can be found on CommsLink.

GatewayC webinar on supporting earlier breast cancer diagnosis

A free, CPD-accredited webinar on breast cancer diagnosis will occur on 22 April, hosted by GatewayC. Expert speaker Clare Garnsey will cover breast cancer presentations and management strategies. For registration, access the webinar link.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

This online initiative is accepting patient referrals for those living with obesity. With over half a million referrals already made, eligible practitioners can refer patients via the Weight Management Enhanced Service, available until 31 March 2026.

Broadening the 700,000 urgent care commitment

The urgent care commitment has been extended to encompass all dental appointments conducted through courses of treatment. A recent letter from NHS England details the commission teams' responsibilities in maximising resource efficiency.

Dental contract reform webinars

A webinar focusing on ongoing dental contract reforms, scheduled for 11 March, aims to equip commissioners and providers with the necessary information for effective implementation. Interested participants can register online.

Podcast on dental contract changes

An informative podcast featuring discussions on recent changes to dental contracts has been released by NHS England North-East and Yorkshire. Further information on dental reform is available through this link.

Amendment to temporary suspensions approved particulars

Effective from 1 June 2026, new procedures for reporting temporary suspensions via the Manage Your Service (MYS) platform will be implemented. For further steps, see the updated particulars on the NHS England website.

Rare Disease Day – 28 February 2026

Recognising the significance of Rare Disease Day on 28 February, primary care staff play a crucial role in identifying rare conditions. Resources for enhancing knowledge can be found on the Rare Disease Education Hub and through Genomics 101 free courses.

Manage your appointments and record a vaccination service – user support for the spring vaccination campaign

New video content demonstrating the use of appointment management and vaccination recording systems will be available by the end of February. Additional drop-in sessions will commence from mid-March, offering support for users. Visit the following links for training resources:

• Manage Your Appointments training videos (FutureNHS)

• Manage Your Appointments drop-in sessions (FutureNHS)

• Record a Vaccination Service training videos (FutureNHS)

• Record a Vaccination Service drop-in sessions (FutureNHS)

NICE support for NHS decision makers

The new NICE healthtech guidance aims to assist GP practices in identifying worthwhile digital tools, thus optimising clinician time while providing patients with effective alternatives for managing their health needs. For further details, follow this link.

NHS launches Talking Therapies campaign

A nationwide campaign has been initiated to encourage self-referrals for NHS Talking Therapies, which provide support for various mental health conditions. More information on this initiative can be found here.

New MHRA guidance for mental health technologies

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has introduced new resources aimed at educating health and social care professionals, ensuring informed decision-making regarding mental health digital tools. Resources for both the public and professionals are available via the following links:

• Resources for the general public

• Resources for health, social care, and education professionals

• MindEd – elearning for healthcare

Report a notifiable disease: pilot

The pilot for reporting suspected notifiable diseases is set to expand, with a focus on mumps. Feedback from participants will inform future developments. More information can be found here.

Community of practice national neighbourhood health webinar

Scheduled for 18 March, this webinar will address data and measurement within the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. Interested individuals can book a spot.

Delivering the Red Tape Challenge

A webinar on practical steps for improving collaboration and reducing bureaucracy will take place on 5 March. Registration details are available through this link.

Get involved

Harnessing the benefits of physical activity

The NHS Physical Activity podcast series has commenced, highlighting actions professionals can take to promote physical activity among patients. Access resources on the NHS Physical Activity webpages.

• 2 March 5pm: 2026/27 GP contract changes

• 2 March, 1.30–3pm: Children and Young People’s Eating Disorders Services National Guidance Webinar

• 4 March, 10–12pm: Violence Prevention and Reduction National Learning Session

• 4 March, 10.30-12pm: AI Ambassador Network meeting - one year anniversary edition

• 5 March, 12:00–13:30: NHS Confederation webinar: delivering the red tape challenge

• Further events scheduled through March and June.

For those who missed it, webinars are accessible with recordings and slides available on General Practice webinars.

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. You can view the original email here.