The latest polling from the Health Foundation and Ipsos found that nearly half of the public (48%) delayed or avoided contacting their GP practice about a health concern in the previous 12 months. The findings also reveal that improving access to general practice remains top of the public's list of priorities for the NHS, this time tied with improving access to A&E.
The majority of those who avoided making contact with their GP cited perceived challenges linked to access as the reason for this: 30% did not expect to be offered a suitable appointment, 17% thought it would be too difficult to contact the practice, and 14% worried their request would not be taken seriously. A quarter of people (27%) decided to manage the issue themselves or wait for it to go away.
The polling suggests that key reforms to speed up access to general practice in the NHS are generally welcomed by the public. Two-thirds of people (66%) support patients seeing other healthcare professionals, such as a practice nurse or pharmacist, rather than a GP, where appropriate. More than half (55%) prefer to use online options such as the NHS App or practice website to make an appointment.
Improving access to A&E has risen to the top of the public's list of priorities for the NHS, increasing from 25% around the time of the 2024 election to 36% now. The government's flagship policy to improve waiting times for routine hospital appointments ranks only fourth in the list of the public's top concerns.
Public views about the NHS remain negative overall, the poll shows, with 42% of people thinking that the general standard of care provided by the NHS has worsened over the past 12 months, while only 12% believe it has improved. Views are similarly pessimistic about prospects for the year ahead, with 47% predicting standards will get worse, and 15% thinking they will get better.
Tim Gardner, assistant director of policy at the Health Foundation, said: ‘These findings reflect the tough choices facing policymakers in turning around a struggling health service. The government has pledged to shift care from hospital to community, yet this will only happen with strong foundations in general practice, which needs investment and reform.
‘Priorities include recruiting and retaining enough GPs, modernising general practice IT and buildings, and rapidly testing and evaluating new ways of delivering care – including balancing speed of access with continuity of care for patients who most need it. Our findings signal that, too often, people are going without the care they need, which risks storing up health problems further down the line and placing more strain on an already stretched service.'
In response, Ruth Rankine, director of the primary care network and neighbourhood lead at the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, said: ‘Primary care is the front door for patients seeking care and plays a key role in the NHS' much-needed shift towards prevention. It is, therefore, disappointing that this polling shows that so many patients lack confidence in booking appointments with their GP due to concerns over access, choice and GP capacity.
‘Yesterday, we also welcomed the publication of the GP contract. With a £485m investment in boosting GP capacity, as well as the requirement for 90% of patients with urgent care needs to be seen on a same-day basis, we hope that this will go some way to addressing the concerns highlighted in the Health Foundation's report.'
