General Practitioners
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that people can see a GP within (a) seven days and (b) within 24 hours if it is urgent.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
We are committed to ensuring that patients can access digital consultations within 24 hours, recognising the significance of timely care for all.
Under the current GP Contract, practices are required to ensure that anyone needing an appointment at a general practice is offered one within two weeks, with those requiring urgent attention being seen on the same day.
We expect practices to offer patients an appropriate response on the day they contact the practice, according to the urgency of their clinical needs. There are various forms this response could take, and an appointment will not be required in all cases.
In August 2025, 44.4% of all appointments were delivered on the same day as they were booked. This is up 0.7% since August 2024. 87.7% of appointments not usually booked in advance were delivered within two weeks of booking.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →