More GP appointments delivered than before the pandemic

According to recently released NHS data, four million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic.

More than 31.4 million appointments (excluding vaccinations) were delivered by GP practices in November 2023 - the busiest November on record.

More than two fifths (42.6%) of appointments were booked and attended on the same day, up 3.3% on the previous month and almost seven in ten appointments were attended within seven days of booking, up 4.5% on the previous month.

Last year, the NHS set out a range of measures with the aim to boost access to general practice for patients including more ways to access care for common conditions from high street pharmacies. It is hoped this will free up to 10 million GP appointments a year by next winter and, with 80% of people in England living within a 20-minute walk of a pharmacy, the move will give the public more choice in where and how they access care.

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England national director for primary care and community services, said: “GP teams are carrying out record numbers of appointments for patients with the latest statistics published today showing four million more appointments were delivered in November 2023 compared to the same period before the pandemic – making it the busiest November on record.

“The NHS published a plan last year to improve access to GP services, which includes upgrading telephone systems to make it easier for people to contact their general practice while more than 34,000 additional staff have joined GP teams since 2019 to deliver even more appointments.

“This is incredible progress from hardworking teams across the country and we are determined to make it easier to access services around people’s busy lives, so if you are concerned about your health please come forward for care.”