GPs in England are providing millions more appointments and better access through upgraded technology, according to NHS England.
New figures show that there were 31.4 million GP appointments in March, a 6.1% increase from the same period last year and nearly 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
At Lingwell Croft Surgery in Leeds, the 8am rush for appointments has been eliminated thanks to online consultation forms. This digital access frees up telephone and walk-in options for patients who prefer not to go online. The practice uses voice recognition technology in their telephone system, automatically transcribing voice messages so patients can be quickly triaged and directed to the appropriate health professional.
National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, Dr Amanda Doyle, commented:
“For some patients contacting their practice using online methods can be more convenient and easier to access care for their health needs and it’s great to see practices, such as Lingwell Croft Surgery, making advances in the use of technology to support this shift for people who are confident to do so, and have digital access.
“However there’s still more to do to make it easier for patients to contact and see their local GP, which includes making even better use of new technology to improve patient care”.
Two GPs work alongside two care navigators to triage patient requests, with GPs prioritising complex cases and other patients being directed to appropriate services such as nurses, physiotherapists, or paramedics. The new contract will modernise general practice by requiring GP surgeries to allow online appointment requests throughout working hours from October, freeing up phone lines for those who need them most and making it easier to triage patients based on medical need.
Almost every GP practice in England (99%) has upgraded their phone technology, allowing phone lines to be expanded. Latest figures also show that an additional 1,503 GPs have been recruited since October 2024.
In response to the figures Ruth Rankine, Primary Care Director at the NHS Confederation, said:
“The latest data shows that demand for primary care has continued to rise, with appointments well above pre-pandemic levels. So the rollout of new technology to prevent the 8am rush for appointments and streamline how patients access primary care is very welcome, as we know that patients can find it very frustrating trying to get an appointment when they want one.
“But even with this new technology GPs and their teams are still facing an enormous demand for care, often from patients with multiple or more complex conditions. That is why our members support the government’s ambition to invest more in care in the community, so that patients can get the right care from the right clinician as early and close to their home as possible.
"We know the NHS is in a difficult financial position, but there must be a balance between meeting important financial and improvement targets and implementing the vital reforms necessary to put the health service on a sustainable footing.”
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