Latest news with #RCGP
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
A third of GP appointments in June were over the phone or online, data shows
A third of GP appointments in June were over the phone or online, data shows A third (33.3%) of GP appointments in England in June were carried out either over the phone or online, the highest proportion since the pandemic. The figure is up from 30.9% a year earlier in June 2024, and 28.3% in June 2023, according to new analysis of NHS England data by the PA news agency. Family doctors said remote consultations 'offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value', and the majority of appointments are still delivered face to face. As many as four in 10 appointments were carried out by phone or online during the pandemic, but the proportion fell once the impact of Covid-19 eased and had dropped to 27.7% in January 2023. In the past two years the figure has risen slowly but steadily, driven by a sharp increase in consultations taking place online. These accounted for only 1.5% of all GP appointments in June 2023 but had jumped to 4.9% by June 2024 and 8.0% in June this year. This has helped push up the combined figure for phone and online appointments to its current post-pandemic high of 33.3%. The figure just for telephone appointments has remained broadly unchanged over this period, at about 25%. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), said: 'Remote consultations, whether delivered over the phone or via video, can offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value, and evidence has shown that in the vast majority of cases, remote care is safe. 'Often a GP might initially consult with a patient remotely and then ask them to come into the practice if it's necessary to see them in person. 'However, we also know that many patients prefer to access their care in-person, and this is how the majority of appointments are still delivered. 'Over the last 12 months, GPs and their teams have delivered a record-breaking number of appointments, and nearly 250 million were carried out in person.' Some 63.3% of GP appointments in June in England were in person, data shows, down from 65.3% a year earlier and 68.4% in June 2023. Online appointments include those carried out using live chat tools or non-video apps, as well as video-based calls. The proportion of appointments taking place by phone or online varies across the regions, with the figures for June ranging from 38.2% in London to 28.4% in North East and Yorkshire. Prof Hawthorne said the college 'supports a mixed-method approach to delivering care' in general practice and decisions on how appointments are carried out are between clinicians and patients. 'What's key is that when GPs are consulting with their patients remotely, they have access to the robust and up-to-date IT systems that allows them to do so safely and effectively,' she added. Prof Hawthorne said the Government 'has put forward some encouraging proposals to improve the GP practice digital infrastructure and IT systems' but 'significant investment' is needed to make this a reality. She added: 'The college has called for additional funding of at least £2 billion to ensure our physical and digital infrastructure is fit for purpose so we can offer patients the appointment that's right for them.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We've made real progress fixing the front door of the NHS, recruiting more than 2,000 GPs in the last year and delivering an additional 7 million GP appointments to improve access for patients. 'Through our 10 Year Health Plan we are delivering Neighbourhood Health Services that deliver more personalised, proactive care in local areas where it is more convenient for patients. 'This Government is also clear that patients should have access to health and care when they need it and people who prefer a face-to-face appointment should have one, so we are transforming the NHS app to make managing your healthcare online easy and flexible.' An NHS England spokesperson said: 'Every GP practice must offer face-to-face appointments where patients want or need them, and many patients choose remote appointments where it is clinically appropriate and more convenient for them. 'GP teams are working hard to offer better access for patients, with a record number of appointments being carried out in the last year and recent findings showing the number of patients who are satisfied with their practice has improved.'
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
One in three GP appointments are not face-to-face
One in three GP appointments in England are not face-to-face, the highest proportion since the Covid pandemic. A third (33.3 per cent) of appointments across the country in June were carried out either over the phone or online. The figure is up from 30.9 per cent a year earlier in June 2024, and 28.3 per cent in June 2023, according to an analysis of NHS England data. 'Offer convenience and flexibility' Family doctors said remote consultations 'offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value', and the majority of appointments are still delivered face-to-face. As many as four in 10 appointments were carried out by phone or online during the pandemic, but the proportion fell once the impact of Covid-19 eased and had dropped to 27.7 per cent in January 2023. In the past two years, the figure has risen slowly but steadily, driven by a sharp increase in consultations taking place online. These accounted for only 1.5 per cent of all GP appointments in June 2023 but had jumped to 4.9 per cent by June 2024 and 8 per cent in June this year. This has helped push up the combined figure for phone and online appointments to its current post-pandemic high of 33.3 per cent. 'Record-breaking number of appointments' The figure just for telephone appointments has remained broadly unchanged over this period, at about 25 per cent, the PA news agency reported. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairman of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), said: 'Remote consultations, whether delivered over the phone or via video, can offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value, and evidence has shown that in the vast majority of cases, remote care is safe. 'Often, a GP might initially consult with a patient remotely and then ask them to come into the practice if it's necessary to see them in person. 'However, we also know that many patients prefer to access their care in person, and this is how the majority of appointments are still delivered. 'Over the last 12 months, GPs and their teams have delivered a record-breaking number of appointments, and nearly 250 million were carried out in person.' 'Delivering care' Some 63.3 per cent of GP appointments in June in England were in person, data shows, down from 65.3 per cent a year earlier and 68.4 per cent in June 2023. Online appointments include those carried out using live chat tools or non-video apps, as well as video-based calls. The proportion of appointments taking place by phone or online varies across the regions, with the figures for June ranging from 38.2 per cent in London to 28.4 per cent in the North East and Yorkshire. Prof Hawthorne said the college 'supports a mixed-method approach to delivering care' in general practice, and decisions on how appointments are carried out are between clinicians and patients. 'What's key is that when GPs are consulting with their patients remotely, they have access to the robust and up-to-date IT systems that allows them to do so safely and effectively,' she added. 'Fit for purpose' Prof Hawthorne said the Government 'has put forward some encouraging proposals to improve the GP practice digital infrastructure and IT systems', but 'significant investment' is needed to make this a reality. She added: 'The college has called for additional funding of at least £2 billion to ensure our physical and digital infrastructure is fit for purpose so we can offer patients the appointment that's right for them.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We've made real progress fixing the front door of the NHS, recruiting more than 2,000 GPs in the last year and delivering an additional 7 million GP appointments to improve access for patients. 'Through our 10 Year Health Plan, we are delivering Neighbourhood Health Services that deliver more personalised, proactive care in local areas where it is more convenient for patients. 'This Government is also clear that patients should have access to health and care when they need it, and people who prefer a face-to-face appointment should have one, so we are transforming the NHS app to make managing your healthcare online easy and flexible.' An NHS England spokesman said: 'Every GP practice must offer face-to-face appointments where patients want or need them, and many patients choose remote appointments where it is clinically appropriate and more convenient for them. 'GP teams are working hard to offer better access for patients, with a record number of appointments being carried out in the last year and recent findings showing the number of patients who are satisfied with their practice has improved.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Why an increasing number of GP appointments are taking place remotely
A third of GP appointments in England in June were carried out either over the phone or online, the highest proportion since the pandemic. Family doctors said remote consultations 'offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value', and the majority of appointments are still delivered face to face. The figure of 33.3 per cent is up from 30.9 per cent a year earlier in June 2024, and 28.3 per cent in June 2023, according to new analysis of NHS England data. As many as four in 10 appointments were carried out by phone or online during the pandemic, but the proportion fell once the impact of Covid-19 eased and had dropped to 27.7 per cent in January 2023. In the past two years the figure has risen slowly but steadily, driven by a sharp increase in consultations taking place online. These accounted for only 1.5 per cent of all GP appointments in June 2023 but had jumped to 4.9 per cent by June 2024 and 8.0 per cent in June this year. This has helped push up the combined figure for phone and online appointments to its current post-pandemic high of 33.3 per cent. The figure just for telephone appointments has remained broadly unchanged over this period, at about 25 per cent. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), said: 'Remote consultations, whether delivered over the phone or via video, can offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value, and evidence has shown that in the vast majority of cases, remote care is safe. 'Often a GP might initially consult with a patient remotely and then ask them to come into the practice if it's necessary to see them in person. 'However, we also know that many patients prefer to access their care in-person, and this is how the majority of appointments are still delivered. 'Over the last 12 months, GPs and their teams have delivered a record-breaking number of appointments, and nearly 250 million were carried out in person.' Some 63.3 per cent of GP appointments in June in England were in person, data shows, down from 65.3 per cent a year earlier and 68.4 per cent in June 2023. Online appointments include those carried out using live chat tools or non-video apps, as well as video-based calls. The proportion of appointments taking place by phone or online varies across the regions, with the figures for June ranging from 38.2 per cent in London to 28.4 per cent in North East and Yorkshire. Prof Hawthorne said the college 'supports a mixed-method approach to delivering care' in general practice and decisions on how appointments are carried out are between clinicians and patients. 'What's key is that when GPs are consulting with their patients remotely, they have access to the robust and up-to-date IT systems that allows them to do so safely and effectively,' she added. Prof Hawthorne said the government 'has put forward some encouraging proposals to improve the GP practice digital infrastructure and IT systems' but 'significant investment' is needed to make this a reality. She added: 'The college has called for additional funding of at least £2 billion to ensure our physical and digital infrastructure is fit for purpose so we can offer patients the appointment that's right for them.' Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We've made real progress fixing the front door of the NHS, recruiting more than 2,000 GPs in the last year and delivering an additional 7 million GP appointments to improve access for patients. 'Through our 10 Year Health Plan we are delivering Neighbourhood Health Services that deliver more personalised, proactive care in local areas where it is more convenient for patients. 'This government is also clear that patients should have access to health and care when they need it and people who prefer a face-to-face appointment should have one, so we are transforming the NHS app to make managing your healthcare online easy and flexible.' An NHS England spokesperson said: 'Every GP practice must offer face-to-face appointments where patients want or need them, and many patients choose remote appointments where it is clinically appropriate and more convenient for them. 'GP teams are working hard to offer better access for patients, with a record number of appointments being carried out in the last year and recent findings showing the number of patients who are satisfied with their practice has improved.'
The Guardian
29-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Calls to clean up England's ‘toxic air' as GP visits for asthma attacks rise 45%
The number of patients being treated by GPs for asthma attacks has increased by 45% in a year, prompting calls for urgent action to tackle toxic levels of air pollution. There were 45,458 presentations to family doctors in England between January and June this year, according to data from the Royal College of General Practitioners research and surveillance centre. Across the same period in 2024, there were 31,376 cases. The figures come a week after a damning report by the Royal College of Physicians revealed that 99% of the UK population was now breathing in 'toxic air'. Air pollution was killing 500 people a week and costing £27bn a year in ill health, NHS care and productivity losses, the research showed. New data from the RCGP research and surveillance centre shows the rate of asthma attacks in 2025 has consistently been above the five-year average. Exacerbations of asthma – attacks which cause breathlessness and chest tightness – were, alongside other environmental and lifestyle factors, closely linked to air pollution as patients' airways could be irritated by exposure to harmful matter, the RCGP said. The college is calling on ministers and the mayors of major cities to expand existing clean air zones to combat the health consequences of air pollution. In an interview with the Guardian, Prof Kamila Hawthorne, the chair of the RCGP, said: 'GPs have long been sounding the alarm on the detrimental effects of air pollution on patients' health and these latest figures on asthma exacerbations are extremely concerning. 'Air pollution is a major public health crisis which is often overlooked, but we know it can be responsible for a range of serious physical and mental conditions and will often exacerbate existing conditions in patients. 'We have been very encouraged by the efforts of the mayors in major cities such as Birmingham and London to reduce air pollution exposure through schemes such as the Ulez initiative, which are reporting very positive results. 'But these latest statistics show that we need to go further, expanding the focus on reducing air pollution in the worst affected communities.' The Department of Health and Social Care has said its 10-year health plan, due to be published next Thursday, will shift the NHS from treatment to prevention. Tackling air pollution must be a key part of the plan, Hawthorne said. 'If we don't take measures to address this, it is patients who will suffer the consequences – particularly those in more economically deprived areas with already limited access to healthcare services. 'As well as the devastating human cost, this will ultimately also result in a greater burden on an already overstretched NHS.' Sarah Sleet, the chief executive of Asthma + Lung UK, said the 'huge increase' in asthma attacks was 'extremely worrying'. 'While there may be multiple factors at play, we know that air pollution can be deadly for the millions of people in the UK living with lung conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,' she said. 'It can trigger life-threatening attacks and exacerbate symptoms, leaving people fighting for breath. It stunts the growth of children's lungs, and being exposed to high levels of air pollution over a long period of time can also cause lung conditions. 'Yet still the government has shown no political will to tackle toxic levels of air pollution, which across the UK are much higher than the recommended safe levels set by the World Health Organization.' Prof Steve Turner, the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said he was 'alarmed' by the rise in asthma attacks and urged ministers to 'act quickly'. About one in 10 children in the UK have asthma. Previous studies show steep rises in visits to doctors by children with asthma after a week of raised air pollution levels. 'These attacks are distressing, serious and life threatening, but they are also preventable,' Turner said. 'Exposure to high concentrations of air pollution increases the risk of both developing asthma and triggering attacks.' Dr Harry Apperley, a clinical fellow at the RCPCH, said the impact of toxic air on children's health was 'particularly profound' because their lungs were smaller and they breathed faster than adults, so inhaled a larger volume of air in a shorter period. 'In hospital, I'm increasingly seeing children and families living in or near environments that harm their health … Politicians and policymakers need to act. It shouldn't take a clinician's letter, or even a child's death, to make change happen,' he said. A government spokesperson said: 'Air pollution is a serious public health issue, and we are committed to tackling this issue across the country. 'We have already provided £575m to support local authorities to improve air quality and are developing a series of interventions to reduce emissions so that everyone's exposure to air pollution is reduced.'
Evening Standard
24-06-2025
- Health
- Evening Standard
£2.2bn of ‘wasteful' NHS spending to be diverted to working classes
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), said: 'A patient's postcode and where they live should not determine the level of NHS care they receive, so a review of the funding formula for general practice – which currently does not account for health inequalities – is a good thing, something the college has campaigned for and is long overdue.
