College responds to new polling showing that GP access is the public’s top priority for the NHS

The RCGP comments on new polling from the Health Foundation and Ipsos which found that the public’s top priority for the NHS is making it easier to get GP appointments.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Today’s poll makes clear that access to general practice is a top priority for patients – and it’s vital the Government takes note.

“We understand just how much our patients value the care and services GPs and our teams provide – and as GPs, we’re just as frustrated when they struggle to access safe and timely person-centred care. Recent surveys have given reason for encouragement, showing increasing public satisfaction with general practice services, including around access - but it’s clear from today’s polling there is some way to go.

“As patient numbers grow and the care GPs and our teams are providing becomes more complex, numbers of GPs are rising nowhere near in step. As such, it’s really heartening to see the public recognises this, and wants to see action. After decades of underinvestment and poor workforce planning in our service, the public acknowledges that we need funding and many more GPs if we are going to keep up with growing need for our care and an ageing population.

“The Government has made some promising commitments to supporting general practice, including through funding the move of more care into the community, and recruiting thousands more GPs. With the revised NHS Long Term Workforce Plan forthcoming, we need to see detail on how an increase in GP numbers will be achieved, including recruitment and retention initiatives, as well as greater funding for practices to take on the GPs they need.”

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.