NHS Confederation responds to the latest data on GP appointments

Responding to the latest figures on GP appointments in July 2023, Ruth Rankine, director of primary care at the NHS Confederation, said:

“These figures once again reflect the significant efforts of GPs and their staff, who are continuing to deliver for patients.

“General practice provided 1.36 million appointments each working day in July 2023, up from 1.24 million in July 2022, with well over two thirds of these held face to face. There has also been an improvement on the previous month in terms of how many appointments were delivered on the same day which stood at 43.6 per cent in July, up from 40 per cent in June.

“We should not underestimate the challenges ahead with general practice playing, yet again, a key role in the delivery of the Covid vaccination programme while practice and workforce numbers continue to decline. It is imperative that the needs of primary care are considered as part of wider system planning and funding for winter”.