388 - Primary Care Bulletin: NHS Updates and Insights

Summary of the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin for 7 May 2026

This article summarises the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin for 7 May 2026, the weekly email update for teams in general practice, dentistry, community pharmacy, and optometry.

This week’s bulletin highlights key updates regarding the NHS App, guidance on the Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service, and International Nurses Day. It also details changes to GP contracts and introduces new tools and resources for primary care professionals.

New look NHS App

The NHS App has undergone improvements aimed at enhancing patient accessibility. Key updates include the consolidation of appointment information under a new section titled ‘Appointments, including consultation notes and events’. Additionally, users can now contact their GP about a health issue via the 'Ask about a health problem' feature without needing to book an appointment. For further assistance, patients can refer to the NHS App help and explore walk-through videos showcasing the app’s functionalities.

Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service Local Variation Arrangements

NHS England has announced a variation to the Network contract directed enhanced service (DES) specification 2026/27 which came into effect on 1 May 2026. This update allows Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to request local variations to the Network Contract DES, providing flexibility to adapt to local needs.

Implementing the 2026/27 GP Contract changes

Following the recent updates to the General Medical Services (GMS) contract for the upcoming year, this document outlines the funding changes applicable to Personal Medical Services (PMS) and Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contracts.

Amendments to the Statement of Financial Entitlements

On 1 May, amendments to the GMS Statement of Financial Entitlements (SFE) were published, detailing a practice-level GP reimbursement scheme. This scheme allows practices to claim funding for the employment of new salaried GPs and for additional sessions from existing staff up until 31 March 2027.

GIRFT best practice tool for spinal pain assessment

A new interactive tool has been launched on the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) website to assist GPs and primary care professionals in assessing and managing patients presenting with neck and back pain. This resource aligns with the National Back and Radicular Pathway and provides guidance on best practices for initial assessment, pain relief, and referrals.

Revised Electronic Prescription Service Nomination Standards

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) Nomination Standards have been updated to ensure patient choice is maintained. Patients can choose their nominated dispenser at any time, and contractors are required to only change nominations at the patient's request while documenting these changes accurately.

International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day on 12 May presents an opportunity to appreciate the vital contributions of nurses in primary care. All nursing professionals are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtags #IND2026 and #TeamCNO.

Early breast cancer diagnosis webinar

NHS cancer diagnosis resource GatewayC is hosting a free CPD-accredited webinar titled ‘Early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer – recognising red flags with confidence’ on 10 June. This session will feature expert insights and a Q&A segment.

Better understanding community-based MSK services

The NHS website team is conducting research to gather insights on community-based musculoskeletal services. Primary care professionals involved in MSK referrals are encouraged to participate in interviews scheduled for 18–20 May 2026. For more details, contact england.nhs.uk.user.research@nhs.net.

Upcoming webinars and events

• 21 May, 11–12pm: Understanding and using the Sickle cell clinical pathway initiative

• 21 May, 1–3pm: Measles Epidemiology and Outbreak Response

• 10 June, 12.30–1.15pm: Primary care pancreatic cancer webinar

• 10-11 June 2026: NHS ConfedExpo

Missed a recent national webinar? Access the slides and recordings of 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.

For the original email, click here.