We said it was coming, and it’s here.
From 1 October 2026, practices can claim for locum GPs under the practice level GP Reimbursement Scheme. The GMS SFE (Amendment) (No. 4) Directions 2026, signed on 30 September, rewrite Section 14A. Practices can now claim for increased locum sessions as well as for salaried GPs. This applies to claims from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.
For Practice Managers and GP Partners who have struggled to fund the clinical capacity their patients need, this is a real change.
What the Directions say
- The test: before the claim period, the locum’s annualised sessions were fewer than 9 a week, and you’ve increased them (up to a maximum of 9).
- The rate: the lower of actual cost or £78.41 per hour (£79.84 in London).
- Additionality: you can’t already be claiming reimbursement for the same costs, and the sessions can’t be absence cover.
- Unchanged: the £4.57 × adjusted population cap, claims via CQRS Local within 3 months, and NHS England approval if you have more than 3,500 patients per GP.
Before you claim
NHS England’s guidance and the CQRS FAQ still say that invoice-only locum arrangements aren’t covered. Neither has been updated yet for the new wording. Check with your ICB what evidence it will accept, and start recording each locum’s baseline sessions now.
The other changes in the same amendment
- Practices can transfer all or part of their funding entitlement to another GP practice. This is the easiest one to miss. If you won’t use your full entitlement, it’s worth talking to neighbouring practices or your PCN.
- Practices can claim for new GPs employed between 24 February 2026 and 31 March 2027.
- Practices can claim a higher hourly rate for additional sessions agreed with existing salaried GPs between 30 April 2026 and 24 June 2026.
- Improvement thresholds are introduced into the QOF childhood immunisation indicators, as set out in the 2026/27 QOF guidance.
The eligibility windows are different for each change, so read the SFE and the supplementary information for the full conditions before you make a claim.
Get ready with Locum Deck
Locum Deck, from NASGP, makes booking locum GPs quick and cost-free. With funding now available, it’s the simplest way to get extra sessions in place.
- Practices: complete the form and click “Register here” at the bottom.
- GPs: complete the registration form.
Get me started with Locum Deck → Click the Link Here
Sources: GMS Statement of Financial Entitlements · Supplementary information to support changes to the 2026/27 GP Contract · 2026/27 QOF guidance