General practice teams have delivered a record 33.6 million
appointments in July 2025, up 4.3% on the year before and up
nearly a quarter on the same period pre-pandemic (24.3% increase
since 2019).
Today's statistics show the NHS is on-track for its busiest
summer ever in general practice, with record appointments also
delivered in June 2025.
GP teams also carried out high numbers of care home visits this
July, with 127,112 carried out, the second highest on record.
Typically, the summer months see a slow-down in NHS activity due
to fewer respiratory viruses circulating, like the flu, but this
year, practices have been dealing with a surge in people coming
forward, making what looks to be the busiest summer
in general practice in history.
The data comes as the government continues to make progress in
boosting GP numbers, with more than 2,000 extra GPs having been
recruited since last October, with 29 more recruited in the last
month.
Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and
Community Services at NHS England, said: “General
practice teams are busier than ever this summer, and thanks to
their hard work we've seen another consecutive month of record
numbers of appointments being provided to patients.
“This combined with the latest ONS survey showing almost 3 in 4
people found it easy to contact their GP practice – up from six
in ten less than a year ago - it's clear that general practice is
starting to turn a corner.
“As we head into the colder months, it's crucial that people come
forward to get vaccinated. Our autumn vaccination campaigns are
set to launch over the next couple of weeks, so whether you get
an invite directly from your GP practice or find out about your
entitlement through the NHS website, it's crucial
that you get vaccinated to protect yourselves.”
Minister of State for Care said: “GPs are
integral to our Plan for Change, playing a vital role in our
seismic shift in care from hospital to community and
delivering a health service fit for the future.
“Our reforms to bulldoze bureaucracy and cut red tape are
boosting productivity and efficiency, delivering more
appointments for patients.
“At the same time, we are continuing to boost the GP
workforce to deliver patient care closer to home,
having recruited more than 2,000 since October.”
West London NHS Trust's Care Home Service is a unique GP Practice
in Ealing, with an extended team that provides enhanced,
proactive support to around 1,200 care home residents across the
borough living in 20 nursing homes and another 25 residential
homes. It delivers planned and reactive care, 12 hours a day, 365
days a year and works with other community services in the
borough.
Dr Natasha Griffin, a GP within the Service
said: “Visiting patients in care homes regularly means I
build strong, trusting relationships with patients, families, and
with the care staff, which is essential for delivering
personalised care. Being able to support Ealing residents in
familiar surroundings has helped to prevent unnecessary hospital
admissions and support them to remain in the place they know
best.”
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