Patients favour access but are concerned about GP pressures, finds poll

New polling reveals that easier access to GP appointments continues to be the public’s main priority for the NHS – but also that patients have growing concerns over the pressures that GPs face.

Almost two fifths of survey respondents (39%) said that access was their primary concern, with decreasing A&E waiting times (34%), and improving working conditions to reduce the number of staff leaving the NHS (29%) coming in just behind. 

The survey, from the Health Foundation and Ipsos, also revealed that bringing down hospital waiting lists ranked only fifth in the public’s priorities.

And the poll, which was conducted in May and received over 2,000 respondents, found that patients were increasingly worried about the pressures that GPs are under. 

In all, 82% of respondents said they were concerned about the level of pressure that GP practices are facing. This is the highest figure on record – up from 78% in 2024, and 73% in 2022. 

According to the poll, the biggest threats that people believe their GP practice face are: not enough doctors (41%), pressure put on by an ageing population (29%), and lack of funding (27%).

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges currently facing your local GP practice?

Commenting on the survey’s’ findings, RCGP chair Professor Kamilla Hawthorne said that it was ‘vital’ that the Government recognised the public’s concern about access to general practice.

She 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.’

Professor Hawthorne added that GP numbers were not rising ‘in step’ with growing numbers of patients and complexity and that it was ‘really heartening’ that the ‘public recognises this, and wants to see action’.

The Health Foundation poll also showed that the public’s confidence in the Government’s management of the NHS remains low, with only 16% agreeing that the right policies are in place. 

However the polling did take place before the 10-year health plan; and it is still more positive than before last year’s general election – where only 8% supported the Government’s plans for the NHS.

Assistant director of Policy at the Health Foundation Tim Gardner said: ‘Overall, the public mood on health and care remains largely downbeat but there are signs that perceptions are slowly improving. Views of local health services are more positive than perceptions of how the NHS is performing overall, especially among people with recent experience of accessing care.

‘The challenge for government will be convincing the public that their plans will deliver tangible improvements in the areas they care most about. While the government has made improving NHS waiting times its headline pledge, the public’s top priority remains easier access to GP services with tackling elective waiting times only fifth among their biggest concerns. 

‘Tackling unacceptably long waits for routine hospital treatment is essential, but resources are constrained and trade-offs are inevitable, so the risk is that slower progress is made on delivering the priorities that matter most to the public.’

Last week, the RCGP and BMA signed a letter along with 70 other health organisations urging the health secretary to involve them in developing a new 10-year workforce plan.

The 2023 Long Term Workforce Plan, which aimed to increase NHS headcount by 60% by 2037, was rejected as unworkable. It was also criticised for its projected 4% increase of fully-qualified GPs by 2036/37, compared to a 49% increase in hospital consultants.

The new plan promised by the Government will result in ‘fewer staff than projected’, but will be ‘more motivated’ and receive ‘better training’.

Professor Hawthorne said: ‘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.’