GP teams delivered over 30 million
appointments for patients last month (February 2024), up almost a
quarter on the same period pre-pandemic, as part of the NHS
primary care access recovery plan.
New NHS data published today shows
there were 30.5 million appointments (excluding Covid
vaccinations) delivered by GPs and their teams in February 2024,
compared with 24.7 million in February 2020 – an increase of 5.8
million (23.4%).
Almost seven in ten appointments took
place within 7 days of booking, while two thirds of appointments
took place face-to-face.
The NHS promised 50 million more
appointments by March 2024 compared to 2018/19, and the figures
show that GPs and their teams have delivered an extra 57.5
million appointments (excluding Covid vaccinations) over the last year compared to 2018/19 -
significantly above and ahead of the
target.
GPs delivered 364.8 million
appointments excluding Covid vaccinations
over the last twelve months (March 2023 – February
2024).
On average, the NHS is now
offering more than 1.4
million GP appointments every working
day.
Dr Amanda Doyle, National
Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England,
said:
“The NHS is meeting its targets, with
hard working GPs and their teams making tremendous progress
across the country. But we know there is more to do
– that’s why the NHS is implementing the major plan we
announced last year to improve access to GP services, which
includes upgrading telephone systems to make it easier for
patients to contact their surgery, and we’ve boosted the
workforce with an additional 36,000 staff joining GP teams since
2019, all helping to deliver even more
appointments.”
Primary Care Minister said:
“We are determined to make our healthcare system faster, simpler
and fairer for all patients, and this data shows that through the
incredible work of GPs and their teams, we are now delivering
significantly more appointments per working day compared to the
same time last year.
“We are committed to ensuring that everyone who needs an
appointment is able to get one, and our primary care recovery
plan demonstrates how we will deliver for all patients who use
our fantastic NHS.
“Our goals are clear, and we have already delivered on a number
of pledges – including exceeding our target of 50 million
additional general practice appointments per year, several months
ahead of schedule.”
The NHS primary care access recovery
plan also gives people more
choice in how they access care, with more than 10,000 pharmacies
now treating people for 7 common conditions including sinusitis,
sore throat, earache, infected insect bite, impetigo, shingles,
and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women over the age
of 65.
The action is expected to free up to
10 million GP appointments a year 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.
