According to the government, patients who are most in need should have the opportunity to see the same doctor at every appointment in their local GP surgery.
GPs will receive financial rewards for maintaining this continuity of care and for taking proactive measures in preventing common diseases like heart disease or addressing high blood pressure early on.
These initiatives are part of proposed changes to the GP contract in England, which would see an additional £889m added to the existing budget.
The BMA, representing doctors, will consult its members on these proposals, with many GP practices seeing this as a much-needed financial boost.
Currently, GPs in England are taking collective action by working to rule.
The government aims to reduce the number of targets for GPs, increase flexibility for surgeries to hire healthcare staff, and enable electronic communication with patients in addition to traditional methods.
Furthermore, the contract seeks to ensure that patients with complex needs or long-term conditions see the same staff during appointments.
Both the previous Conservative and Labour governments have made commitments to improve patient access to named GPs and avoid the morning rush for appointments.
The Royal College of GPs has praised the budget increase, noting its positive impact on patients and the NHS, while also welcoming efforts to reduce administrative burdens.
However, there is still work to be done, as highlighted by RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne and Dr. Katie Bramall-Stainer from the BMA.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting urged GPs to cooperate with the government to improve the NHS, emphasizing the importance of delivering results over promises.
The final GP contract will be revealed in the spring, with pharmacists expressing dissatisfaction over GP contract negotiations ahead of their own contract discussions.