The number of fully qualified GPs in England has reached its highest level since 2015, according to new figures, but a public petition calling for more doctors has surpassed the threshold for a Government response.
As of June 2026, there were 38,706 GPs in general practice – an increase of 9.95 per cent, or 3,504, compared with December 2020. The Royal College of General Practitioners attributes this rise to increasing numbers of trainees.
Full-time equivalent numbers
However, the number of full-time equivalent fully qualified GPs, including locums, has fallen overall since 2015. The June 2026 figure stands at 29,008, down marginally from 29,364 in September 2015, though up from a low of 27,153 in June 2023.
When Sir Keir Starmer was elected in summer 2024, he pledged to increase the proportion of NHS funds going to general practice and to “bring back the family doctor” to “fix the front door of the NHS”.
Petition surpasses 10,000 signatures
A petition launched on the Government website has called for more GPs, clearer care pathways and “joined-up systems across primary, community and secondary care”. It has reached 10,761 signatures, surpassing the 10,000 required for a Government response.
The initial petition was launched on April 14. It says: “We call on the Government to work with patients and GPs to co-design care pathways so that they provide clearer information and allow patients to track referrals. Government must also plan to train, hire and retain enough GPs for timely care.”
The petition adds: “Patients and GPs have told us the NHS feels like a maze: hard to access, confusing to navigate, and full of delays, lost referrals and unclear next steps. We believe GPs spend too much time on bureaucracy, while workforce shortages limit timely access and continuity of care.”
Government response
A Department of Health & Social Care statement said: “The Government is committed to putting patients first. Our reforms are making care pathways more efficient, timely and responsive to patients, and we now have the highest number of GPs since 2015.”
The full response added: “Increasing GP numbers is a priority for this Government. We have the highest number of fully qualified GPs since 2015, and steps are being taken to grow the GP workforce further. As of August 2026, there are 30,369 full-time equivalent GPs – over 2,600 more GPs than in July 2024.”
From October 2026, secondary care providers are expected to ensure that all appropriate referrals flow through a Single Point of Access model, excluding urgent suspected cancer referrals. From September 2026, patients using the NHS App have been able to receive notifications when a referral has been received and accepted.
The Practice-Level GP Reimbursement Scheme introduced in the 2026/27 GP contract provides ring-fenced funding for practices to recruit GPs or increase sessions from existing GPs. From 1 October 2026, practices can claim reimbursement for locum GPs and pool funding across practices.
NHS England continues to expand GP Specialty Training places. An additional 250 places are available from September 2026, bringing the total to 4,500, with plans to reach 5,000 by 2028.
Figures show that the number of patients per full-time employed GP is dropping. In July 2023, there were 2,305 patients per full-time employed GP, now standing at 2,187 – though still an increase from 1,938 in September 2015.
The Royal College of General Practitioners said: “The general practice workforce continues to face significant pressures as patient numbers rise. As of June 2026, GP practices in England were responsible for approximately 63.4 million patients – an increase of approximately 6.5 million compared to September 2015.”
