Last week, Best Practice London 2026 sat at a timely moment for Primary Care. On the morning of Day 1, news broke of the updated GP Contract. Within hours, what might otherwise have been corridor conversation became the dominant thread across theatres, exhibition stands and informal discussions between sessions. 

The atmosphere was vibrant and engaged. Delegates were not passive recipients of policy; they were practitioners actively interrogating what the contract would mean for safety, sustainability and the future of general practice. In particular, sessions within the Business Services Hub became natural spaces for discussion around funding, urgent access expectations and the day-to-day operational consequences of the changes. 

The requirement for same-day clinically urgent access, combined with scepticism around the uplift, created a shared focal point for how practices would balance expectation with capacity. What stood out most was the value of being able to process these developments collectively, in real time. In a profession where change often lands in inboxes before it lands in practice, having a physical space to debate, question and reflect mattered. 

That sense of collective reflection extended beyond the contract itself. Across the programme, theatres were filled for sessions ranging from practical AI integration to Genital dermatology made simple. Clinical theatres were busy. Operational sessions were packed. Whether the topic was cardiovascular risk, digital triage or practice finance, the appetite for grounded, applicable learning was unmistakable. 

The co-located Women’s Health Professional Care programme drew resounding engagement, reinforcing that women’s health is a core priority within primary care. From menopause to HRT, from endometriosis to cardiometabolic risk, the conversations reflected both progress and the recognition that baseline knowledge and equitable access still require sustained effort. The scale of attendance underlined that this is not a passing focus - it is structural. 

A defining feature of the event was its emphasis on community. Best Practice London is not only about content; it is about connection. This was evident in the cross-disciplinary engagement between GPs, nurses, pharmacists, managers and system leaders. It was also visible in quieter moments, including the open iftar hosted during Ramadan. The gesture was simple, but the message was clear: inclusion is not a statement, it is something enacted. Feedback from delegates suggested that creating space for professional development while respecting personal commitments made a tangible difference. 

Across both days, what emerged was not a single headline, but a shared direction of travel. Primary care wants practical support. It wants clarity in the face of policy change. It wants spaces where operational realities are acknowledged and where clinical excellence remains central. Most of all, delegates want to leave feeling more capable in their work the following week than when they arrived. 

Looking ahead to Best Practice London 2027, taking place on 2-3 March 2027, that principle will remain the foundation. We will continue to mirror the full breadth of primary care: clinical depth, operational insight, inclusive representation and meaningful opportunities for connection across roles and settings. 

If Best Practice London 2026 demonstrated anything, it is that primary care does not lack ideas or commitment. What it needs are platforms that are inclusive, informed and rooted in real practice. As the profession continues to navigate contract reform, workforce pressure and evolving expectations, Best Practice London will remain exactly that: real practice, fresh thinking.