GPs told to prioritise A&E frequent attenders under new contract

A new £485m contract asks GPs to use risk‑stratification tools and hospital attendance data to identify patients who attend A&E frequently.

GPs will be asked to prioritise patients who attend A&E frequently under a new £485m contract. The contract directs general practices to use risk‑stratification tools and hospital attendance data to identify patients judged to need the most help. Officials framed the change as an effort to strengthen frontline services rather than rely solely on more hospital funding. This measure is presented as part of wider attempts to address pressure on emergency services. Key points: - Officials said pressures on services cannot be solved only by increasing hospital funding and emphasised reforms at the frontline. - Under the new £485m contract, GPs will be asked to use risk‑stratification tools and hospital attendance data to identify frequent A&E attenders. - Practices are asked to prioritise patients identified as needing the most help based on those data. - Further details and a detailed timeline were not specified in the report. Summary: The government has introduced a £485m contract asking GPs to use risk‑stratification and attendance data to identify frequent A&E users, with officials describing the aim as strengthening frontline services. Undetermined at this time.