Around 4.5m appointments with health care professionals were offered in March 2024, compared to 3.5m in March 2019 – an increase of 29%. Over 2m practice appointments were with GPs.

Dr Tim Caroe, medical director, Primary Care Transformation for NHS England South East Region – and a GP in Eastbourne – said: 'Record numbers of people are seeking support from their GP practice and a significant number of additional appointments are being offered now compared to pre-pandemic times.'

The announcement came on the first year anniversary of NHS England's and Department of Health and Social Care's Delivery plan for recovering access to primary care being launched nationally.

Nearly every general practice in the South East has switched from analogue lines to digital telephony with many of them offering online consultations to contact the practice in order to make it easier for patients to request help and for GPs to respond.

Patients can use online forms to request help, while those who prefer to call their practice and are placed in a queue can choose to receive a call back.

In addition, nearly 4,000 additional staff have been recruited into healthcare roles at general practices in the South East since 2019 to help ensure patients get the support they need.