The 2026/27 GP contract: what changes on your website
By Sreeni, Editor · Last reviewed 9 October 2026 · 5 minute read
NHS England published the changes to the GP contract in 2026/27 on 24 February 2026 (the BMA has a summary too). Most of the changes are about how practices work, but three affect what patients see on your website.
Opening times for every access route
You must display your opening times for each way patients can reach you: walking in, phoning and using online consultation. They need to be on your website, in your practice leaflet and in the practice itself. Core hours, 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, are the minimum.
On your website, that means one clear opening times page that lists all three, with any differences for each branch, not just a single set of surgery hours.
Online registration
The contract makes online registration the route for every new patient. If someone fills in a paper form, your team must enter it into the national online registration system. Your “Register with us” page should send patients to the online registration service first, and explain how to get help if they can’t register online.
Online consultation with no cap
Since 1 October 2025, online consultation has had to stay open for routine appointment requests, medication queries and admin requests throughout core hours (BMA 2025/26). From 2026/27, your tool also can’t cap the number of requests patients send during core hours.
On your website, make the online consultation link easy to find from the homepage, label it clearly, and don’t tell patients it closes once a daily limit is reached.
What to do now
- Check your opening times page lists walk-in, phone and online consultation hours, for every branch.
- Update your practice leaflet and the notices in the practice to match.
- Point your registration page to the online registration service, and remove any download-only forms.
- Remove any wording about daily limits on online consultation.
- Ask your online consultation supplier how they handle requests without a cap.
Questions
Do we still need paper registration forms?
You can keep them for patients who can't register online, but you must enter what they give you into the national online registration service. Your website should send new patients to the online service first.
Can we switch off online consultation when we're busy?
Not during core hours. Since October 2025 it has had to stay open from 8am to 6.30pm on weekdays, and from 2026/27 you can't cap the number of requests patients send in that time.
Where do opening times need to appear?
On your website, in your practice leaflet and in the practice itself, for each way patients can reach you: walk-in, phone and online consultation.
Correct as of October 2026. This guide reflects the GP contract and NHS England guidance at that date. Contracts and guidance change, so check the latest from NHS England and the BMA (linked above) before acting on it.
This guide is general information, not legal or contractual advice.