The Department of Health and Social Care has unveiled plans to provide "additional support" in response to a concerning outbreak of a disease once thought to have been defeated in the United Kingdom. This initiative aims to empower general practitioners to better safeguard children against life-threatening illnesses, following a significant measles outbreak in north London.
Outbreak Details and Government Response
Proposed changes to the GP contract for the 2026/27 period could see thousands of children across the nation shielded from "deadly and highly infectious diseases," the department stated. This action comes in the wake of a measles outbreak in the borough of Enfield, where the UK Health Security Agency recorded 50 confirmed cases of the virus up to February 16.
The outbreak is primarily impacting unvaccinated children, and the DHSC has issued a stark warning. In the most severe instances, children have required hospitalisation to battle what is described as "a serious but preventable disease."
Statement from the Health Secretary
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, emphasised the critical importance of vaccinations. "Vaccinations are safe and they save lives," he stated. "The return of diseases we thought we'd defeated, with children in hospital as a result, is entirely preventable."
Streeting further explained the government's strategy: "With our investment and modernisation in general practice, GPs will be backed to protect children and prevent the risk of further outbreaks like we've seen in Enfield. Every child deserves a healthy, happy start to life."
Revised GP Contract and Incentive System
The revised GP contract, set to be revealed this week, will incorporate further measures designed to help GPs "save young lives and shield families from preventable illness." The DHSC confirmed this will be achieved by bolstering vaccination delivery in the areas where it is most urgently needed.
Under the existing system, only GP surgeries that achieve high vaccination rate targets earn additional incentive payments. This has led to a situation where surgeries in areas with lower vaccination rates frequently "miss out" on securing these extra payments, even when they demonstrate year-on-year improvements in their vaccination rates.
Introduction of Improvement Incentives
The DHSC announced that the next GP contract will "help change this by providing improvement incentives that recognise those practices making progress." These additional resources can be utilised to "reinvest in outreach" and to "follow up with families with unvaccinated children."
The department also stated that these improvement payments will equip GPs with the necessary resources to help protect children who are currently missing out. This approach aims to "reduce health inequalities that leave some babies at far greater risk than others simply because of where they live."
Support from Healthcare Leaders
Ruth Rankine, director of the Primary Care Network and neighbourhood lead at the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, welcomed the announcement. "Primary care leaders welcome this announcement and see it as a fair and supportive approach for general practice, particularly for those working in communities with high levels of unmet need," she said.
Rankine highlighted the challenges involved: "Increasing childhood vaccination uptake can be challenging, especially in areas where coverage has fallen and the risk of outbreaks has risen, so additional support for practices to work with families will be vital in helping protect babies and children from serious, preventable diseases."
Broader Context: Measles Status in the UK
This measles outbreak follows the World Health Organisation's recent announcement that the United Kingdom can no longer be regarded as a country that has successfully eradicated the disease. The WHO has declared that measles is now "re-established" within the UK, marking a significant setback in public health efforts and underscoring the urgency of the government's new support measures for general practitioners and vaccination programmes.
