According to the analysis, the number of areas with more than 2,000 patients per GP has almost doubled in six years.
Around 92 of England’s 106 health districts now have more than 2,000 patients per fully qualified GP – 80 per cent more than the 51 districts in 2016.
Across England, there are now an average of 2,273 patients per fully qualified GP – up from 1,981 in 2016. The rise means patients are waiting longer for appointments and experiencing a weaker connection with their doctor.
The number of registered patients in GP practices increased by 7 per cent to 62 million, while the number of fully qualified GPs fell by 7 per cent to 27,375.
South Tyneside has seen the sharpest increase – a 42 per cent increase since 2016 – in patients per GP. Next came Preston (36 per cent), Cannock Chase in Staffordshire (34), Stoke-on-Trent (33) and North Cumbria (32).
The number of areas with more than 2,000 patients per GP has almost doubled in six years
The figures come from an analysis of NHS figures by the House of Commons library on behalf of the Liberal Democrats.
Definitive guide to the 6,000+ GP practices in England
Daisy Cooper MP, the party’s health spokeswoman, wants the NHS to recruit 8,000 new GPs and give patients the legal right to see a GP within seven days or within 24 hours if it is urgent.
She added, “This shortage has a terrible human cost as people experience delayed or missed diagnoses and fill A&Es.”
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, president of the Royal College of GPs, said: “These figures show how hard GP teams are working to deliver quality and complex care despite inadequate resources and staff.”
An NHS spokesman said: “We are working to provide the right number of staff with the right skills to meet changing needs.”
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health said the number of GPs had grown when trainees were counted.
He added that a recruitment program provided 550 apprenticeships in 2021 and 800 last year.
Daisy Cooper MP, the party’s health spokeswoman, wants the NHS to recruit 8,000 new GPs
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
