GP appointments up by a quarter on pre-pandemic levels

GPs delivered over a quarter more appointments in April than before the pandemic, according to NHS data.

(c) Hush Jade Naidoo Photography/Unsplash

(c) Hush Jade Naidoo Photography/Unsplash

Over 30 million (30.5m) appointments were delivered in April 2024, compared with 24.5m in April 2019.

Dr Amanda Doyle, national director for primary care, NHS England said: ‘Thanks to GPs and their hardworking teams, millions more appointments are being delivered every month compared to before the pandemic with plans in place to improve access even further.'

Over 1.4m GP appointments are being offered every day with the NHS having exceeded ambitions to provide an additional 50m appointments by March 2024.

An extra 62.8m appointments (370.1m in total, excluding Covid vaccinations) were delivered in 2023/24 compared with 2018/19.

Almost all (98%) GP practices in England have upgraded their phone tech to ensure more appointment calls can be taken, with the remaining agreeing dates for upgrades in the next month.

Almost two-thirds of appointments (65.4%) were face-to-face in April.

RCN
Nurses give 'devastating testimony' on corridor care

Nurses give 'devastating testimony' on corridor care

By Lee Peart 16 January 2025

A survey of over 5,000 NHS nursing staff has offered ‘devastating testimony’ of patients dying in corridors, lack of equipment and unsafe practices.

NHS hospitals record busiest week this winter

By Lee Peart 16 January 2025

NHS hospitals have recorded their busiest week this winter, new data has revealed.

NHS England data reveals patients satisfaction levels

By Liz Wells 10 January 2025

More than 95% of adults that attempted to contact their GP practice in the past 28 days were successful, with 77.8% making contact the same day, new date rev...


Popular articles by Lee Peart