Millions of people struggling to get a GP appointment

NHS data reveals that one out of every twenty patients in Britain must endure a wait of at least four weeks before securing an appointment with a GP. In November 2023, 1.5 million appointments in England's GP surgeries occurred four weeks or more after scheduling, constituting 4.8% of the 31.9 million appointments held that month. Shockingly, in one out of every six appointments—5.4 million in total, or 17.3%—patients faced a wait of at least two weeks after booking to consult with a GP, practice nurse, or another healthcare professional.

The strain on GPs intensifies as demand surges while the number of full-time, fully qualified doctors dwindles. Factors contributing to this demand include an ageing population with more chronic ailments and patients from hospital waiting lists seeking relief from pain or mental health issues. With declining GP numbers and the looming threat of surgery closures, NHS and medical leaders foresee exacerbating issues. As of October, England's NHS boasted 27,368 full-time, fully qualified GPs—761 fewer than in December 2019, despite a Tory manifesto pledge to add 6,000 GPs by 2024. Moreover, an increasing number of GPs opt for part-time work, citing the unmanageable nature of the job full-time. According to a Nuffield Trust report, the NHS must train two GPs to replace one full-time family doctor.

A Royal College of GPs survey found that 37% of respondents were unlikely to remain in general practice within five years, while 5% anticipated their practice closing or relinquishing its contract within the next year.