Uncertain future of GP partnerships in England

A report from the Nuffield Trust, published in March, described the general practice partnership model in England as “withering” and called for urgent government action to revive it.1 The health think tank’s analysis, covering September 2015 to December 2024, shows that the number of GP partners has fallen by nearly 25% from 24 491 to 18 425.2 Concurrently, 1396 surgeries closed, and in June 2024 GP partners became the minority among fully qualified GPs for the first time.2

The GP partnership model has been a cornerstone of English primary care since the NHS’s inception. Partners operate independent businesses that are contracted through NHS England, enabling tailored local services and continuity of care, though often through partners’ goodwill and unpaid overtime.23 Despite these benefits, GP partners have faced criticism and real term funding cuts—average annual payments per patient rose marginally (from £152.81 in 2016-17 to £164.64 in 2022-23), amounting to a 20% reduction after inflation.4 The health secretary, Wes Streeting, described GP partnerships as “murky and opaque” in January …