GP practices in England will be obliged to provide same-day appointments for patients with urgent medical concerns under revised contract rules. Ministers say the measure is intended to ensure anyone needing prompt attention can be seen without delay. To support the change, funding for GP services is being increased by nearly £500 million, with the aim of boosting recruitment and easing pressure on surgeries.

Practices already reserve slots for urgent cases, but they will now be expected to formally monitor access and meet the target in the vast majority of cases. Urgent cases include situations where symptoms indicate treatment should begin immediately or where a patient’s condition could worsen quickly, such as a child with a high temperature and rash or an elderly person who becomes suddenly confused.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the move as part of efforts to improve access to primary care, adding that struggling practices would receive support rather than punishment. The reforms follow previous changes, including mandatory online booking systems for routine appointments and financial incentives linked to prescribing certain treatments.

However, the British Medical Association has warned the pledge could raise expectations beyond what overstretched services can realistically deliver. Although GP numbers have risen, workloads remain significantly higher than in previous years, and patient satisfaction surveys suggest many people feel access has not improved.