Allow ARRS funding to be used for practice nurses and GPs

The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) has made available to GP practices £1,412 million in 2023/24 to employ people in 17 new roles. We would like GP practices to also be able to use this money to pay for practice nurses, salaried GPs and locum GPs, who are currently excluded from ARRS.

GP practices should be allowed to use ARRS funding to employ experienced practice nurses and GPs to help provide the best possible care for their patients. We believe excluding these professions from ARRS funding is contributing to their shortage. Some practices that are short of funds are relying on ARRS funded roles.

The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) was introduced in 2019, it allows Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to claim reimbursement for up to 17 roles. The government has introduced flexibility to ARRS as the scheme has developed since 2019. The government remains committed to diversifying and growing the General Practice Workforce through the scheme and PCNs and practices have recruited over 34,000 additional staff through the scheme.

Changes to the scheme are made through wider changes to the GP contract. The contract arrangements for 2024/25 are subject to consultation with the British Medical Association and it would be inappropriate to comment further. An update will be provided once the consultation has concluded.

GP practices are independent contractors to the NHS who have a significant degree of flexibility to determine how best to staff their PCN or GP practice to best meet the needs of their population. The needs of each patient are different and can be affected by many different factors, including rurality and patient demographics. Individual practices are responsible, as employers, for ensuring their staff are trained and competent to carry out their role, and for investing in the future of their staff through providing continuing professional development funding.

Department of Health and Social Care