GP practices in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) offered more than 425,000 extra appointments to patients during the 2024/25 financial year, tipping the annual total to over 7.8 million, according to new figures published by the NHS. This is a six per cent increase in appointments compared to the same period the previous year and includes significant increases in online and video appointments too.
NHS England publishes GP appointment data each month and the latest publication, March 2025, completes data for the 2024/25 NHS financial year. During the year, same-day appointments also increased by six percent (an extra 180,000 appointments) and face-to-face appointments by three per cent (an extra 150,000 appointments).
Dr Nil Sanganee, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board said: “Our local practices have continued to work very hard to provide over 425,000 extra appointments during the last year, representing a six per cent increase. By embracing how a modern general practice should work, they have put in place effective triage to help balance care requirements across a highly skilled and varied workforce and a more convenient range of appointment options, introducing new technologies to make it easier for patients to get what they need. General practice works very differently now to what many people might be used to and it is worth taking a closer look at how things have changed at your practice.”
Nowadays, patients are looked after by a wide range of different health professionals who work together in the practice, including clinical pharmacists, paramedics and social prescribers, alongside GPs. While it isn’t always necessary to see a GP, GP appointments have still risen by three per cent (an extra 102,000) and appointments with other practice staff have gone up by eight per cent (an extra 323,000).
Having an appointment in an alternative format can often be more convenient and what’s best for many patients, particularly where their work, caring commitments or mobility challenges make it more difficult to go to the practice in person. Along with the increases in face-to-face appointments, video and online appointments have increased by 173 per cent, by nearly 220,000 appointments in the last year. Telephone appointments have increased by over 60,000 (four per cent).
Practices’ core hours are between 8am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday, but many also offer additional evening and weekend appointments. They also work as part of a group of practices known as a primary care networks (PCNs), through which even more appointments are provided. Included in the totals are 42 per cent more evening and weekend appointments (over 22,000 extra) and an extra nine per cent (27,000) provided by PCNs.
To find out more about how GP practices work nowadays, visit getintheknow.co.uk
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2 responses
Where as it may be easier to get an appointment I am wondering if this is because people are being passed from pillar to post. My husband booked an appointment on line for Measham Medical Centre. He requested medical assistance to help him stop smoking. He has COPD and at 62 years old a lung age of 91. He was told that the practice didn’t issue medication and was asked to contact a quit smoking service. After spending most of the afternoon talking to these people it appears the GPs can prescribe this medication but there is an issue with funding. My husband has been told he can pay for them from some pharmacies as long as they can screen him. When complaing the receptionists response was that they don’t normally issue this medication. My brother in law who is a patient at the same surgery recieved the medication issued by a GP from there a few weeks ago. When this was raised it was suggested that my husband re attended the surgery next week to see a GP again. This is totally unacceptable. The government have funded a campaign to stop people smoking yet they can’t get the help. Why should he pay privately for medication after paying into the NHS all his life.
Thank you for contacting us. To discuss further, please contact our enquiries team: llricb-llr.enquiries@nhs.net