GPIP Practice Level Support (PLS): supporting practice level improvement

What is PLS?

PLS is hands-on, in-practice, regular support from experienced PLS facilitators, working with practice teams over several months.

The focus is on helping the team develop their systems and processes to improve access in the practice in a way that suits the practice and improves the experience for its patients.

How do you get PLS for your practices?

PLS was delivered through the national GPIP programme to 1909 active practices from 2023/24 to 2025/26.

From 2026/27 PLS can be commissioned locally under a nationally procured contract. For further information please contact england.pctgpip@nhs.net.

What are the benefits?

PLS is highly rated by participating practices with 99% of sessions rated as having gone well, or very well by practices, with 87% of sessions receiving the top rating.

Practices make demonstrable progress in their journey towards the model of Modern General Practice.

NHS England » Modern general practice model

Practice capability in quality improvement techniques and confidence is enhanced. Practices report increasing confidence, team working, belief and resilience.

Built in flexibility

For 2026/27 and beyond PLS has been designed to be flexible to adapt to emerging practice support needs.

MGP PLS can support individual practices to improve access and make progress against the MGP model.

PLS Advanced can support those practices that have made good progress against the MGP model and now want to work in more advanced areas such as pro-active care or neighbourhood working.

While PLS Collaborate allows a group of practices to work towards a common aim, perhaps in a PCN or similar grouping

Where does PLS fit strategically?

PLS can form part of local Primary Care support plans where practices will benefit from this hands-on support.

PLS supports the 10-year plan and specifically the challenge of improving access, with a focus on the Modern General Practice model

NHS England » Modern general practice model which is one of the 6 pillars of Neighbourhood working. It can also support reducing variation in practices.