State of General Practice Report 2026

This first report of an annual series assesses the ability of UK general practice to deliver high-quality patient care, establishing a baseline against which we can measure progress.

 Download the report (PDF file, 1 MB)

Published October 2026

About the report

This report combines findings from our annual GP Voice Survey 2026 of over 1,500 GPs with other relevant available data to assess the state of general practice across the UK, including the level of investment it receives, the capacity of the GP workforce, workload levels, digital capabilities, and service sustainability. This will enable us to measure progress, identify emerging challenges and hold decision-makers to account for whether general practice is improving.



Key findings

The report finds that general practice across the UK is operating under significant and growing pressure. The findings point to a consistent challenge: the capacity and infrastructure of general practice have not kept pace with patient need or the expectations being placed upon it.

  • Capacity gap

The number of GPs in the workforce has not kept pace with the growth in population size and demand. 

  • Unsustainable workload

Workload pressures are impacting GPs’ wellbeing, attitudes toward their careers, and their ability to consistently provide high-quality care.

  • Inadequate investment

Ambitions to develop neighbourhood and community-based care are not reflected in the allocation of resources to general practice or investment in local clinical leadership.

  • System inefficiency

Inadequate IT and digital systems are adding to general practice workload pressures.

  • Barriers to equitable care

GPs face significant constraints in delivering equitable sustainable and preventative care.

This situation has severe implications for the ambition of governments across the UK to prioritise prevention, shift more care into community settings and harness digital technology to improve patient experience and outcomes. 

Recommendations

Read our key recommendations below to see how governments' can close the gap between their ambitions and the current capacity of general practice:

Supporting fair and sustainable general practice, by distributing resources equitably, incentivising prevention and investing in modern, fit-for-purpose premises.

Expanding and retaining the GP workforce through tackling severe workload pressures and removing barriers to rewarding careers, and by supporting IMGs and academic career pathways.

Improving digital infrastructure, including the interoperability of digital systems, and ensuring safe, evidence-based adoption of new tools.

Strengthening the role of general practice, recognising the value of expert medical generalism and the benefits of relational continuity – enabling GP leadership in neighbourhood and community care.

State of General Practice Report 2026

This report combines findings from our annual GP Voice Survey 2026 of over 1,500 GPs with other relevant available data to assess the state of general practice across the UK

Download the report (PDF file, 1 MB)