Slow down shift to neighbourhoods, says GP leader

Plans to introduce neighbourhood provider contracts next year should be “reconsidered”, the Royal College of GPs’ president has told HSJ.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown said she supported a delay until the service can be clear “what it is that we are trying to change” with the policy.

NHS England launched a consultation on Thursday about details of the single neighbourhood provider and multiple neighbourhood provider contracts, which were proposed in the 10-Year Health Plan.

In an interview with HSJ, the East London GP said she supported aspects of neighbourhood health, but warned of risks in the proposed rapid shift in structures and funding.

Asked if the move to define the contracts this year – with a view to introducing them next year – was too fast and should pause, she said: “We should reconsider… certainly we need to be clearer of what it is that we are trying to change.”

Professor Tzortziou Brown questioned government’s “assumption that you will get the structures and the contracts right… and then things will follow”.

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Source: HSJ, 20 July 2026