New research highlights pressures in general practice, finding that the overall number of consultations has increased by 15 per cent over the past five years, three times the rate of increase in the number of GPs.
Understanding pressures in general practice is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the pressures facing the profession. The report analyses 30 million patient contacts from 177 practices and includes extensive research with GP practices and trainees.
As well as a growth in the number of consultations, it shows that general practice’s workload has become more complex and intense.
The report by The Kings Fund looks at patient factors, system factors and supply-side issues to see what lies behind this increasing pressure on general practice. It finds that despite GPs being at the heart of the health care system, a lack of nationally available, real-time data has made their changing workload largely invisible to commissioners and policy-makers.
Full report: Understanding pressures in general practice
Related blog: The NHS needs more data on activity if it is to address the crisis facing general practice
