Get the facts on GP 'crisis'

14 December 2022

Labour’s analysis on five million ‘denied’ GP appointments fact checked

This widely reported figure is an estimate, based on several assumptions that may not be right.

Labour’s analysis on five million ‘denied’ GP appointments fact checked

9 June 2022

Survey of GPs’ retirement plans is not reliable

The GPs who responded were the ones who knew about the survey and chose to participate—who are not necessarily representative of GPs as a whole.

Survey of GPs’ retirement plans is not reliable

20 October 2021

Two doctors with same name cause Times letter confusion

A social media post incorrectly claims that a letter written to The Times was from a doctor who died in 2016.

Two doctors with same name cause Times letter confusion

13 October 2021

Daily Mail report on GPs seeing fewer patients on Fridays needs more context

There are some important caveats to figures showing GP appointments drop off later in the week.

Daily Mail report on GPs seeing fewer patients on Fridays needs more context

13 August 2019

We can’t say patients are waiting over two weeks to see a GP on average

Reports that the average wait to see GPs has passed the two-week mark aren’t based on reliable evidence.

We can’t say patients are waiting over two weeks to see a GP on average

4 February 2019

How many migrants have registered with GPs in the last decade?

6.5 million migrants have joined GP surgeries in the decade from 2007, but not all of them are here long-term and some were double counted.

How many migrants have registered with GPs in the last decade?

19 February 2018

Could 18 million GP appointments be seen by pharmacists?

A survey of around 60 GPs found that 6% of appointments could have been dealt with at home or at a pharmacy, but we can’t say if it’s an accurate …

Could 18 million GP appointments be seen by pharmacists?

22 December 2017

Is the NHS recruiting enough new GPs?

The number of GPs is falling, but we can’t be certain by how much. The number in training is rising, although we don’t know if this will be enough for …

31 January 2017

Are patients going to A&E instead of GPs?

It was estimated in 2010 that between 10% and 30% of cases attending A&E were of a type that could be seen by a GP.

Are patients going to A&E instead of GPs?

27 January 2017

The total number of missed GP appointments

Perhaps surprisingly, no-one routinely collects this information.

The total number of missed GP appointments

GP 'crisis'

Labour’s analysis on five million ‘denied’ GP appointments fact checked

Survey of GPs’ retirement plans is not reliable

Two doctors with same name cause Times letter confusion

Daily Mail report on GPs seeing fewer patients on Fridays needs more context

We can’t say patients are waiting over two weeks to see a GP on average

How many migrants have registered with GPs in the last decade?

Could 18 million GP appointments be seen by pharmacists?

Is the NHS recruiting enough new GPs?

Are patients going to A&E instead of GPs?

The total number of missed GP appointments

Full Fact fights bad information