Total investment in general practice was £412.168m 2024-25
Date published:
New accredited official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Health present information on the investment in general practice and the reimbursement for drugs dispensed in general practices in Northern Ireland.
Key findings:
- In 2024-25, the total investment in general practice, including the reimbursement of drugs dispensed in general practice, was £412.168m. Compared to 2023-24, this represents an increase in the total investment in GP practices of 6.16 per cent in Northern Ireland. In real terms this equates to an increase of 2.01 per cent. General practice played a key role in the response to the Covid-19 pandemic during 2020/21 and 2021/22 and, this is reflected in higher levels of investment during that period.
- In 2024-25, in response to the recommendation in the report of the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB), a 6.0% uplift was applied for GP pay. In addition, 6.0% uplift for practice staff expenses and a 2.5% uplift for other expenses were also applied. This represents an investment of £14.295m.
- Under the 2024/25 General Medical Services contract, £38.9m funding was released for repurposing as a result of the incorporation of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) and specified Enhanced Services into core contract, and with the inclusion of funding for Clinical Waste also moving into the core. Of this, £33.9m was re-purposed into Global Sum. When uplift was applied to this repurposed funding, it resulted in an additional £2.313m monetary uplift. When added to investment noted above, this equated to an overall figure of £16.608m.
About the publication
Presents information from the financial reporting system of the Strategic Planning & Performance Group (SPPG) of the Department of Health (DoH) and other published data on reimbursement and remuneration for dispensing activity derived from the Family Practitioner Services Pharmacy Payments System maintained by the Business Services Organisation (BSO).
The data also contain some financial flows which do not reach GP Practices but contribute towards overall General Medical Services (GMS) investment. These include payments for Information Management and Technology (IM&T) and out-of-hours services.
Further Information
View the report and data tables: Investment in General Practice, Northern Ireland 2020-21 to 2024-25