379: NHS Primary Care Bulletin - 5 March 2026

Introduction

This article summarises the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin for 5 March 2026, the weekly email update for teams in general practice, dentistry, community pharmacy, and optometry.

This edition of the bulletin focuses on the upcoming NHS policy changes involving dental quality reforms, updates on digital communication for the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, and the expansion of the RSV vaccination programme. It also highlights resources for enhancing health inequalities and the integration of various care services, reinforcing NHS England's commitment to improving patient care across all primary care sectors.

Preparing for NHS dental quality and payment contract reforms

A letter was issued to dental practices and commissioners, outlining critical timelines and information necessary for implementing the NHS quality and payment dental reforms. This communication includes the timetable for these contract changes and necessary actions for compliance, following the earlier correspondence on unscheduled care activity requirements. Read the letter.

NHS Cervical Screening Programme – Digital-first communications update

As part of its digital transformation, the NHS has begun sending digital invitations, reminders, and some results for the NHS Cervical Screening Programme via the NHS App. Following positive feedback, results necessitating referral to colposcopy will also be accessible through the app, encouraging more patients to adopt this digital communication method. Additional resources for supporting this transition are available to enhance patient engagement. More information and resources.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

Practices registered for the Weight Management Enhanced Service are reminded that referrals made to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme until 31 March 2026 will be compensated under the current structure. Starting April 2026, new indicators in the Quality and Outcomes Framework will support the weight management pathway in primary care, facilitating better patient access to evidence-based interventions. More information on the programme and referrals.

New toolkit helps practices address health inequalities

The Royal College of General Practitioners has released the Fairer Practice Toolkit, aimed at reducing health disparities within communities. This resource presents over 100 actionable items categorized into different themes, enabling practices to target specific patient groups requiring focused attention. An accompanying online tracker is available to help practices monitor their progress.

Clinically urgent same day webinars

NHS England is hosting webinars to guide integrated care boards and practices regarding the 2026/27 GP Contract requirement for same-day appointments for clinically urgent patients. The sessions will encompass best practices for appointment categorization and data management, thereby enhancing overall care delivery.

• ICB webinar: Wednesday 25 March, 4.00–5.00pm

• Practice webinar: Thursday 26 March, 5.00–6.00pm

RSV vaccination programme: update

The RSV vaccination programme will be expanded as of 1 April 2026, now including all adults aged 80 and over alongside residents in care homes. Practices are mandated to comply with the updated contractual obligations regarding vaccinations. Community pharmacy providers already engaged with RSV vaccinations will also extend their offerings to include the increased eligible cohort. A letter from NHS England details these changes. Read about the update.

Improving postnatal care: a toolkit for integrated care boards, partners and providers

NHS England has published a toolkit aimed at enhancing postnatal care quality as part of the Maternity and Neonatal Three Year Delivery Plan. The document is designed to aid collaborations among integrated care boards and health providers in refining maternal health services. A related webinar to discuss the toolkit will occur on 24 March. Register for the webinar.

Enhancing care for sickle cell carriers: a framework for confident conversations

The Sickle Cell Clinical Pathway Initiative offers a framework to assist healthcare professionals in providing comprehensive, sensitive counselling to individuals with the sickle cell trait. This resource is applicable across various care settings. A dedicated webinar on this framework is scheduled for 11.00-12.00pm on 18 March. Register for the webinar.

NHS App update webinar

There will be an NHS App Q&A session to address queries on functionality and usage, taking place on 19 March. Participants will have the opportunity to pose questions live or submit them in advance. For more details and to register, please visit NHS England's website.

Learn more about the NHS Educator Workforce programme

NHS educators play a crucial role in healthcare training. The Educator Workforce Programme aims to acknowledge and develop this workforce across all sectors by ensuring they receive adequate support and resources. For more information on the programme and to get involved, visit NHS Educator Workforce Programme webpage.

Community of practice national neighbourhood health webinar

Join the upcoming community of practice for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme on 18 March, focusing on measurement and digital innovations.

Upcoming webinars and events

• 10 March, 1.00 -2.00pm, Specialist Pharmacy Service - Structured Medication Reviews in problematic polypharmacy: cardiovascular disease focus

• 12 March, 12.30–1.30pm, GIRFT webinar: First Contact Practice (FCP) national evaluation themes and initial findings

• 19 March, 2.00-3.30pm, NHS England and City of London Police Cyber Griffin Primary care cybersecurity webinars Cyber Baseline Part A

• 25 March, 4.00–5.00pm, Clinically urgent same day webinar: ICB webinar

• 26 March, 5.00–6.00pm, Clinically urgent same day webinar: practice webinar

• 26 March, Social Prescribing Day

• 14 April, 2.00 - 3.30pm, NHS England and City of London Police Cyber Griffin Primary care cybersecurity webinars Cyber Baseline Part B

• 22 April, 12.30–1.15pm GatewayC webinar on supporting earlier breast cancer diagnosis

• 10-11 June 2026, NHS ConfedExpo

Catch up

For those who missed previous sessions, the slides and recordings of recent national webinars can be accessed here: General Practice webinars.

Content in this article is drawn from the NHS England Primary Care Bulletin. Patient.info edits and formats the updates to provide a clear, accessible archive for professionals. View the original email.