NHS Mandates Same-Day GP Appointments for Urgent Cases from April
General practitioners across England will be required to provide same-day appointments for patients with urgent health needs starting in April, under the terms of a newly announced NHS contract. This significant policy shift aims to address growing concerns over patient access to primary care services, but has already sparked controversy among medical professionals.
Public Avoidance of GP Services Revealed in Survey
A concerning new survey commissioned by the Health Foundation reveals that nearly half of the British public (48 per cent) avoided or delayed contacting their GP about a health concern during the previous year. The Ipsos poll of 2,200 UK adults identified multiple barriers preventing people from seeking medical attention, including difficulties contacting local practices, expectations that problems would resolve themselves, and skepticism about securing suitable appointments.
Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at the Health Foundation, expressed serious concerns about these findings. "Our research indicates that people are frequently going without necessary care, which risks compounding health problems over time and placing additional strain on an already overstretched healthcare system," he stated.
Contract Details and Funding Arrangements
The new GP contract, backed by a £485 million government investment, specifically requires that all patients with urgent medical needs receive access to same-day appointments. Additionally, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that £300 million of existing funding will be ring-fenced to support the recruitment of additional GPs or extend the working hours of current practitioners.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting framed the initiative as "fixing the front door to the NHS," emphasizing that the government is "giving practices the flexibility to hire more GPs, and backing them with extra funding to do so." He added that "many more patients with urgent needs will be able to get an appointment the day they contact their practice."
Medical Community Expresses Serious Concerns
The British Medical Association has warned that while this move might be presented as a "major win" for patient access, family doctors will be "left reeling" at the new requirement. Dr. Katie Bramall, chairwoman of the BMA's GP Committee, cautioned that patient expectations of securing same-day appointments "won't be matched by NHS reality."
Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the Royal College of GPs, highlighted the severe staffing challenges facing general practice. "There are currently 2,258 patients per GP, with far fewer fully qualified, full-time equivalent GPs per patient than we had a decade ago," she explained, describing the pressure as "unsustainable" for both patients and healthcare providers.
Additional Contract Requirements and Public Priorities
The contract also mandates increased utilization of a process where GPs consult with hospital specialists before making referrals, potentially creating what critics describe as "unnecessary barriers" to specialized care. Meanwhile, the Ipsos survey identified accessing GP services as the public's top priority for NHS improvement, alongside reducing A&E waiting times.
Public confidence in government NHS policies remains notably low, with 54 per cent of respondents disagreeing that their government has appropriate policies for the health service, compared to just 15 per cent who expressed agreement. Furthermore, two in five respondents (42 per cent) believe the general standard of NHS care has deteriorated over the past year, while only one in eight (12 per cent) perceive improvement.
Patient Experience and Systemic Challenges
Chris McCann, acting chief executive at Healthwatch England, provided insight into patient frustrations: "People consistently tell us that GP services are becoming harder to use and that simply getting through the door for care can be a significant challenge. We frequently hear from individuals who wait in long telephone queues for appointments, only to discover that all available slots have been taken for the day, forcing them to try again tomorrow."
Despite these challenges, Professor Tzortziou Brown noted that "GPs are working harder than ever, with over one million appointments delivered in general practice every day across England, and 46 per cent on the same day as the booking." She acknowledged, however, that "too many patients are still waiting too long for appointments or are anxious that they won't be able to get the care they need when they need it."
The medical community has expressed equal frustration with the current system, with Professor Tzortziou Brown concluding that "GPs and our teams are just as frustrated as our patients when they can't access our care."
