New NHS data shows that GP Practices in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire provided a staggering 7,824,633 appointments in the 2024 calendar year – an increase of more than 430,000 on 2023.
The GP Access Data (GPAD), provides an insight into the ever-increasing demand for GP appointments and how local GP practices and Primary Care Networks are innovating by:
- introducing additional roles such as paramedics, social prescribers and physiotherapists to practice teams to create more appointments
- providing patients with flexibility by offering online and telephone appointments to fit in with busy lifestyles
Many local practices have taken advantage of Modern General Practice Access Model (MGPAM) funding from NHS England to invest in improvements designed to tackle the ‘8am rush’.
This has included the introduction of new cloud-based telephony, website improvements, care navigation training, new online consultation features and extending the use of the NHS app to book appointments and/or order prescriptions.
And the increase in appointments has not been at the expense of timely consultations, with the same ratio (41%) of on the day appointments achieved in 2024 as in 2023.
Dr Dave Briggs, Medical Director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB, said: “GP practices in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are working extremely hard to offer more appointments for patients in the face of ever-increasing demand, which is reflected in the latest GP Access Data.
“I am delighted that so many Nottingham and Nottinghamshire GP Practices are investing in new technology which gives patients more ways to get the right NHS care at the right time.
“Whilst we know that getting a GP appointment for some people can sometimes be frustrating, it’s reassuring more appointments are being provided, practices are working hard to improve access and other alternatives, such as Pharmacy First, are available to ensure more people have timely access to the treatment they need.”
Meanwhile, in the most recent GP Patients survey, 74% of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire respondents said that the overall experience of their GP practice was good, which is exactly in line with the average for England.
The survey covered a range of topics, including contacting the GP practice, online services and the care received.
The highest-rated GP Practice in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire by its patients is Tudor House Medical Practice in Sherwood, Nottingham with 97% of patients who responded saying they had a good overall experience of the practice.
Dr Jonathan Lloyd, GP Partner at Tudor House Medical Practice, said: “Tudor House has been a long-established part of the community in Sherwood for many decades, with a long-standing team of GP Partners and other clinical and non-clinical staff who are well-known to patients. We know this familiarity is valued by our patients and we were thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response through the patient survey.
“As with all GP Practices, we’ve seen a significant increase in demand in recent years, but we’ve been able to adapt by investing in our telephone systems and promoting greater use of the NHS app, which has led to a big shift in the way our patients contact the practice and made us easier to access.
“We’ve also increased the range and number of specialist medical professionals available to our patients so that we can provide or signpost them to the right care at the right time.”
Overall, seven practices in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire scored over 90% when asked about experience of your GP practice. They were:
Tudor House Medical Practice, Sherwood, Nottingham 97%
St George’s Medical Practice, West Bridgford, Rushcliffe 96%
East Bridgford Medical Centre, East Bridgford, Rushcliffe 95%
Castle Healthcare Practice, West Bridgford, Rushcliffe 94%
Bawtry & Blyth Medical, Bawtry, Bassetlaw 91%
Hounsfield Surgery, Sutton-on-Trent, Newark & Sherwood 91%
The University of Nottingham Health Service, Nottingham 90%
