Investment in General Practice, Northern Ireland 2020-21 to 2024-25

Date published: 3 October 2025

This is the sixth time that investment in general practice, including the reimbursement for drugs dispensed in general practices in Northern Ireland, has been published by the Department of Health.  Previously, country level information from all 4 UK countries was published by NHS Digital.  However, changes to general practice contractual arrangements in each country over recent years mean the data are no longer comparable. As a result, the UK series has been discontinued.

Key Points:

In 2024-25, the total investment in general practice, including the reimbursement of drugs dispensed in general practice, was Pound 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 Pound 14.295m.

Under the 2024/25 General Medical Services contract, Pound 38.9m funding was released for re-purposing 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, Pound 33.9m was re-purposed into Global Sum.  When uplift was applied to this repurposed funding, it resulted in an additional Pound 2.313m monetary uplift.  When added to investment noted above, this equated to an overall figure of Pound 16.608m.

* NHS Digital legally merged with NHS England on 1 February 2023.  All references to NHS Digital now, or in the future, relate to NHS England. NHS England has assumed responsibility for all activities previously undertaken by NHS Digital.