The new leadership of NHS England is planning to end a stand off with GPs by postponing controversial new demands on practices, it has been revealed.

Earlier this year the British Medical Association GP committee voted to end talks with NHS England as tensions grew over the pressures on practices. Many practices have been alarmed by the range of expectations they are due to face, imposed through primary care networks. Following a summit meeting between the BMA and new chief executive Amanda Pritchard, NHS England said it may defer some of these obligations from October until April next year.

In a letter to the BMA, obtained by the Health Service Journal, national director for primary care Ian Dodge says: “In our meeting we described how NHS England is looking again at whether certain of these can be deferred from this October until no later than April 2022, bearing in mind the renewed urgency of tackling healthcare inequalities for example in hypertension detection, working in tandem with our community pharmacy partners.”

The letter adds: “The primary care team here stands ready to resume working with you, including on PCN extended access arrangements, as soon as you may be able.” The letter also refers to a £150 million primary care network investment and impact fund. It states the money will be paid for this year – but the “main focus” of implementation will be deferred to next year.

BMA GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey told the journal: “GPs and their teams have been working immensely hard over the last 18 months, going above and beyond during the pandemic, delivering record numbers of appointments both remotely and face-to-face, all on top of existing pressures and an historic vaccine rollout, and it’s encouraging to see this acknowledged in today’s letter from NHS England. Following the constructive meeting with the newly appointed NHSEI chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, last week, these are further welcome steps from NHS England, and suggests a change in tone, understanding and approach. We are keen to build on this and turn this into positive action so we can both reform our working relationship and work together for the good of practices and our patients.”

Data published yesterday shows a 2.7% increase in GP earnings in the financial year 2019-20. While the average gross earnings of practices increased by 13% in England, reaching £282,300, average net income of GPs reached £100,700 – compared with £98,000 the previous year. In Scotland average GP net income reached £99,800, an increase of 4.2%. In Wales the increase was 1.9% with average net income reaching £97,600. In Northern Ireland, the income increase was 6.5%, reaching £93,600, according to the NHS Digital analysis.