Information for Patients: Changes to GP Services for 2026/27
We want to let you know about some national changes to GP services that started in April 2026. They come from the new GP contract set by NHS England, and they affect how all GP practices organise appointments and patient access.
At Southbourne Surgery, our priority remains the same: providing safe, high-quality care for our patients.
How to contact us
Our online form is open 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Administrative requests, such as fit notes, repeat prescriptions, letters and routine long-term condition reviews, can be made at any time during these hours.
Every medical request is reviewed by our clinical triage team, and we will then contact you with the right next step. We work within BMA safe working guidance, so this may be an appointment or advice to use another service, such as a community pharmacy, NHS 111 or an urgent treatment centre. To keep care safe, there may be times when we cannot accept new medical requests. If so, the form will show you other services you can use. In an emergency, call 999 or go to the Emergency Department.
We will continue to offer online, telephone and face-to-face access. You can also call us on 01243 388740 between 8am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. See our Appointments page for more detail.
If your request is urgent, a member of the team will respond on the same day. This may be a phone call, an online message or an appointment, depending on your clinical need. Routine issues may be booked for a later date when appropriate.
Why response times may vary
The national changes are expected to increase the number of requests we receive each day. This may mean:
- busier phone lines at peak times
- longer waits for routine appointments
- more triage (clinical assessment) before appointments are booked
As now, a clinician will triage every request to decide how urgent it is. We will always prioritise patients with urgent or high-risk symptoms.
Working safely for patients and staff
GP surgeries across the country are being asked to do more without a matching increase in the number of clinicians. To keep care safe, we will continue to follow BMA safe working guidance, which protects:
- the quality of clinical decision-making
- staff wellbeing
- patient safety
This may affect how quickly routine care can be arranged, but it ensures that urgent problems are dealt with promptly.
What you can expect from us
We will:
- continue to respond on the same day to urgent requests
- keep the information on our website and in the surgery clear and up to date
- work closely with local NHS teams to make sure you are referred safely to other services
- keep you informed of any further national changes that affect our services
How you can help
You can support the practice by:
- using our online form for non-urgent problems where possible
- giving as much detail about your symptoms as you can when you send an online request
- arriving on time for appointments, and cancelling any you no longer need
- being patient with our staff during busy periods: they are working hard to help you
Our commitment
Despite these national changes and the growing pressure on general practice, Southbourne Surgery remains committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care for all our patients. We will keep adapting and will tell you about any further changes as soon as we know more.
