Website of the Department of Health

General Medical Services (GMS)

The GMS contract has evolved in partnership between the NHS Confederation and the General Practioners Committee (GPC) of the British Medical Association (BMA). It creates greater flexibility for GPs and represents an unprecedented level of investment in primary care.

• General Medical Services (GMS)

Personal Medical Services (PMS)

This section contains the most up-to-date guidance and legislation documents relating to PMS.

• Personal Medical Services (PMS)

Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS)

APMS offers substantial opportunities for the restructuring of services to offer greater patient choice, improved access and greater responsiveness to the specific needs of the community. It will provide a valuable tool to address need in areas of historic under-provision, enable re-provision of services where practices opt out, and improve access in areas with problems with GP recruitment and retention.

• Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS)

Primary Care Trust Medical Services (PCTMS)

This section provides guidance on the PCTMS route, under which PCTs are able to provide services themselves by directly employing staff.

• Primary Care Trust Medical Services (PCTMS)

Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)

Guidance about the QOF annual review process, QMAS and other aspects of the new primary care contracting arrangements relating to information management and technology.

• Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)

Business Rules for revised QOF (1 April 2006)

The business rules on the DH site are for historical use only. Please use the rules that are published on:

• Joint DH, NatPaCT and NPDT website on primary care contracting (opens new window)

Related guidance and directions

Interim Guidance on Directed Enhanced Service - Extended Opening Hours

In line with The Operating Framework for the NHS 2008/09, this guidance is intended to help PCTs implement arrangements for GP practices to extend their opening hours, and arrangements for monitoring progress.

• Interim Guidance on Directed Enhanced Service - Extended Opening Hours

Appraisal funding guidance

This guidance note replaces the appraisal funding guidance issued by the Department of Health in March 2003 (gateway reference 2159). Arrangements agreed locally under that note will need to be reviewed in line with this new guidance, which has been agreed with the NHS Confederation and BMA's General Practitioners Committee.

• Appraisal funding guidance

The Variation of Transitional Agreements Directions 2004

Directions clarifying arrangements for disputes in relation to PMS pilot scheme agreements (regarded from 1 April 2004 as transitional agreements).

• The Variation of Transitional Agreements Directions 2004

Patient and public involvement in developing primary medical services

This note sets out advice for PCTs on complying with their patient and public involvement duties when developing primary medical services through GMS, PMS, PCTMS and APMS contracts.

• Patient and public involvement in developing primary medical services

Goodwill guidance

Regulations have been made concerning the ban on the sale of goodwill of medical practices. This guidance note helps to explain the new arrangements.

• Goodwill guidance

Letters and circulars

This section contains recent letters written by ministers and other Department of Health officials to NHS organisations updating them on specific aspects of the GMS and PMS contracts.

• Letters and circulars

Premises

Guidance and documents about the aspects of the new primary care contracting arrangements relating to premises.

• Premises

Information management & technology (IM&T)

Guidance - Modernising information management and technology in general practice

Published: April 2006. The content of this guidance has been agreed between the Department of Health and the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association and is intended to provide further advice and guidance to PCTs that they are recommended to take into account when making any arrangements for the provision of IM&T support services. It sets out good practice and proposes a number of sensible service standards and procedures that the PCT and the practice can utilise as a basis for their agreement. To ensure the efficient operation of practice based IM&T, it is not envisaged that PCTs would wish to reach agreements where the overall level of support available to practices fell short of the service standards proposed in this document.PCTs are asked to ensure that all their practices and local IM&T suppliers are made aware of the contents of this guidance.

• Modernising information management and technology in general practice

Contacts

For details of how to get in touch with your regional Primary Care Contracting Advisors and other local primary care contracting leads, see the 'Contacts & feedback' section of the

• Joint DH, NatPaCT and NPDT website on primary care contracting (opens new window)
• Email the Department of Health Primary Medical Care Contracting mailbox (opens new window)