New data confirms increases in general practice

NHS Digital today published updated data on GP appointments, on workforce in general practice and primary care networks up to 31 January 2023.

The data shows in the 12 months to January 2023 more than 18 million additional appointments were provided in general practice compared to the previous 12 months.

In January 2023 there were almost 120,000 more appointments available in general practice every working day than in January 2022 - almost four million more in total.

There are also hundreds more doctors working in general practice now than a year ago.

These figures compliment the quarterly workforce update - released on Thursday 17 February - which confirmed we have more than 25,000 additional staff providing care directly to patients, or supporting doctors and nurses to do so, rapidly expanding the expertise available in general practice.

We are on course to hit the 26,000 target ahead of the March 2024 target date and remain committed to offering more urgent appointments on the same day and all other appointments within two weeks.

The Chancellor announced an £8 billion package for the health and social care system in the Autumn Statement and this money is already making a real difference.

We have already announced our urgent and elective care plan and we are due to announce our primary care recovery plan shortly and are working with NHS England on a long term workforce strategy.

Please see below a quote for use in coverage about improved access to appointments and staffing in primary care and general practice.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:

“We're making sure patients get to see their GP quickly. These figures show we delivered almost four million more appointments last month, the equivalent to almost 120,000 every working day. We are making progress on our commitment to offer 50 million appointments a year by March 2024.

“There are more than 400 additional doctors in general practice compared to a year ago, face-to-face appointments are up by over 10 per cent and we are on track to hit our target of 26,000 additional members of staff including pharmacists, physiotherapists, and paramedics,  who are providing care directly to patients, or supporting doctors and nurses to do so.

“While there is more to do, we are focused on the government’s priority to cut waiting lists so people get the care they need more quickly and improving access to dedicated healthcare professionals up and down the country.”

BACKGROUND

• We remain committed to our targets of offering urgent appointments on the same day and all appointments within two weeks.
• The GP appointment data is a comparison between January 2023 to January 2022 and a rolling 12 month total excluding Covid vaccinations and is available here - Appointments in General Practice, January 2023 - NDRS (digital.nhs.uk)
• The monthly primary care network workforce data provides staffing numbers for January 2023 and is available here - Primary Care Network Workforce, 31 January 2023 - NDRS (digital.nhs.uk)
• The monthly general practice workforce data is available here - General Practice Workforce, 31 January 2023 - NDRS (digital.nhs.uk)
• The quarterly figures published 17 February are available here - Primary Care Workforce Quarterly Update, 31 December 2022, Experimental Statistics - NDRS (digital.nhs.uk)
• There are 25,262 members of staff recruited since March 2019 providing care directly to patients, or supporting doctors and nurses to do so against the 26,000 target by March 2024.