GP practices across England have made significant strides in improving access, offering more appointments than ever before and implementing digital systems to streamline contact and triage.

Introduction

Patient access to general practice in England is improving, according to NHS England. More appointments are being delivered, and almost all practices have now upgraded to digital systems that make it easier for patients to reach their GP and receive appropriate care.

Boost in Appointment Numbers

In April 2025, general practice delivered 29.3 million appointments. This marks a 19.1% increase compared with April 2019. On average, over 1.4 million appointments are taking place every working day.

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England’s National Director for Primary Care and Community Services, said: “Improving access to general practice is an NHS priority and vital for patients as GP teams deliver more than 29 million appointments every month – up almost 5 million since before the pandemic.”

Widespread Adoption of Digital Access

NHS England also confirmed that 99% of GP practices now have cloud-based digital phone systems. These allow for improved call handling, including options such as call-back requests and call queue data, which help patients avoid long waits.

The latest survey data shows that 72% of patients found it easy or very easy to contact their GP practice, an improvement from 60% in July 2024.

Additionally, 94% of practices are now using digital tools that allow patients to submit requests online. These e-consultation systems help direct patients to the right care, whether that be a same-day appointment, a telephone call, or support from pharmacy or community services.

Agentic One – Virtual Hub

By providing remote clinical support, optimising triage, and enhancing workforce capacity, the Agentis One Virtual Hub complements these national priorities. Like the successful example of Village Health Group, Agentis One helps practices deliver the right care at the right time, improve continuity, and boost patient satisfaction—all key outcomes NHS England is aiming to scale across general practice.

Conclusion

With nearly all practices embracing digital triage systems and delivering millions more appointments, NHS general practice continues to evolve to meet patient demand and improve the experience of accessing care.

Citation:

NHS England. (2025, June 2). GP practices improve access by embracing technology and increasing appointments. NHS England.