GPs and their staff in England are to benefit from a 1% pay increase together with substantial extra funding for expenses, it has been announced.

The English GP contract deal came the day after a Welsh deal which also provided 1% for pay – but a lesser amount for rising expenses.

And today the government is expected to announced its pay deal for non-medical NHS staff – offering 6% over three years.

The £256 million extra cost will allow some 3.4% for rising costs, it was announced.

It also includes some £60 million for GP indemnity expenses and an increase of 26p in the item of service fee – bringing it to £10.06.

GP representatives at the British Medical Association have agreed practices will complete the roll-out of the electronic prescription service – and there will be an extra £10 million to complete implementation of the e-referral service.

There is also a specific clause banning practices from advertising private services that should be provided free on the NHS.

GP leaders said they had gained clarification on “last person standing” issues and improvements in regulations on violent patients.

There is also to be a major review of premises, set to begin this summer.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: “The 2018/19 contract is a further concrete step in investing in and strengthening general practice, which is at the heart of our modern NHS.”

BMA GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said he was still pressing for a 3% pay increase for GPs and their staff.

He said: “While this agreement alone will not resolve many of the issues facing general practice today, it builds on our progress from the last two years and provides stability to practices at a time when there is little else stable for our profession.

“For too long, GP pay has been in decline, despite working harder than ever to deliver more appointments in an increasingly under pressure NHS. From the outset of these negotiations we have been resolute that we would not accept a 1% uplift for pay and expenses, but made it clear that after a decade of pay cuts, it is time GPs and their staff received a proper pay increase.”