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GP Crisis: 1 Doctor for 3,000 Patients!
19 Feb
Summary
- One GP cares for nearly 3,000 patients in worst-hit areas.
- 3.7 million more patients registered since 2020.
- Every Integrated Care Board exceeds safe patient limits.
England's general practice is facing a severe crisis, with alarming figures revealing that in the most impacted areas, a single General Practitioner (GP) is managing nearly 3,000 patients. This situation has worsened considerably since 2020, as an additional 3.7 million patients have been added to GP lists, while the increase in fully qualified GPs has been minimal, with only 648 new doctors added.
Data analysis indicates that all 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across England are failing to meet the British Medical Association's recommended safe ratio of one full-time equivalent GP for every 1,000 patients by 2040. Nationally, the ratio stands at one GP for every 2,200 patients. Specific regions like North West London ICB report a ratio of one GP for every 2,746 patients, while Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes ICB face a similar challenge with 2,706 patients per GP.
These pressures are leading to unsustainable workloads for GPs, with patient demand significantly outstripping capacity. Despite a substantial rise in the total number of appointments delivered, much of this increase is attributed to other healthcare professionals like nurses and physiotherapists. The proportion of appointments actually handled by GPs has fallen from 53% in 2018 to 45% in 2025. The Royal College of GPs acknowledges the troubling picture of general practice under immense strain.
