On the 1st April 2026, NHS England introduced mandatory advice and guidance for GPs and primary care professionals. This means clinicians must get advice and guidance from secondary care colleagues before referring patients, which we think removes their ability to make direct referrals.

We demand that the Department of Health and Social Care U-turn on this section of the new GP contract for 2026/27 and restore advice and guidance as a voluntary service. In our view, mandating advice and guidance in primary care makes it even harder for patients and their GPs to advocate on their behalf. We believe this is nothing more than a PR stunt by the government to create the illusion of reducing waitlists by stealth. We think it will only push patients out of sight, stuck between the inboxes of consultants and GPs.