General Practitioners: West Dorset

We recognise the particular challenges rural communities can face in accessing general practices (GPs), including longer travel times and workforce pressures. We are taking action to improve access across England, including in rural areas such as West Dorset.

Since October 2024, £160 million has supported over 2,000 more GPs in primary care networks. The 2026/27 contract also introduces a £292 million practice-level reimbursement scheme to help practices recruit more GPs or expand sessions.

There was a 7% increase in appointments delivered by GPs in West Dorset. This year, 6.1 million appointments were recorded compared to 5.7 million for the same time period in 2025

There are now 436 full time equivalent, fully qualified GPs working in the NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board in April 2026, including 28 GPs recruited through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme since October 2024.

Building on the Medium Term Planning Framework published in October, the 2026/27 GP Contract makes clear that any request identified as clinically urgent, as determined by the GP, must be dealt with on the same day. This will support timely access for all patients, including those in rural communities where distance and travel times can make accessing care more difficult.

We are also reviewing the Carr-Hill formula, which informs how resources are allocated to practices based on estimated workload. The initial phase concluded in May, and recommendations are now with the Department for consideration, including how resources can be targeted where they are most needed.