Survey Shows Most GPs Rushing Appointments

Published: 09 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Public confidence in primary care services is under strain as a major new survey reveals that the majority of general practitioners in England feel compelled to rush through patient appointments, citing relentless workload pressures and inadequate consultation time. The findings, released by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), paint a stark picture of a profession under intense stress, where doctors feel unable to meet the standards of care they aspire to provide.

The poll, which surveyed 2,316 family doctors across the UK, found that almost three in five GPs say they are unable to properly assess or treat patients during a standard appointment. A similar number reported not having enough time to build long-term relationships with patients—something they believe is fundamental to delivering safe and effective care.

The typical NHS GP appointment lasts no longer than ten minutes, yet demand has risen sharply in recent years. England’s GP practices now deliver over one million appointments each day, a record-breaking figure that reflects both the growing population and the increased complexity of medical needs. For many family doctors, the sheer volume of patients means consultations are reduced to brief, transactional exchanges rather than the detailed discussions necessary to ensure proper diagnosis and follow-up.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the RCGP, warned that the combination of high demand, limited resources, and chronic understaffing is placing both patients and doctors at risk. “Patient safety is being compromised because we simply don’t have enough time to do our jobs properly,” she said ahead of the college’s annual conference in Newport, Wales.

The RCGP’s data shows that 73 per cent of GPs believe patient safety is currently at risk due to excessive workload pressures, while fewer than 30 per cent feel they have enough time during appointments to provide high-quality care. Prof Hawthorne, who will open the conference with a keynote speech, said the findings reflect the harsh reality of life in modern general practice.

“All around the country I meet GPs pushing themselves day after day to look after their patients in the face of ever-growing demand and an unsustainable lack of capacity,” she said. “It’s hard to find a GP who doesn’t feel they have to cut corners. This is not because they want to—it’s because they simply have no other choice.”

According to the RCGP, the profession is facing what it describes as a “capacity crisis,” with many doctors reporting burnout, exhaustion, and declining morale. Despite efforts to recruit new practitioners, thousands of GPs have left the NHS in recent years, citing overwhelming workloads and rising administrative demands.

The survey also raised alarm about the Government’s new 10-year health plan, which aims to shift more care into community settings as part of its “neighbourhood health service” model. While the strategy is intended to ease pressure on hospitals, most GPs are deeply sceptical about whether it can succeed without significant new funding and workforce expansion.

Nearly 68 per cent of doctors said they were concerned there are not enough GPs to deliver the plan effectively, while 65 per cent expressed uncertainty about how funding would be allocated and what their role would be within the new system. A further 57 per cent said they feared a lack of capacity and resources would make implementation impossible.

Prof Hawthorne acknowledged that the Government’s ambitions to strengthen community-based care are laudable but warned that such reforms require a much larger and better-supported GP workforce. “I understand that apprehension completely,” she told delegates. “When your workload is like a river that never stops flowing, no matter how hard you work, no matter how many hours you put in, it is difficult to have the mental capacity even to think about long-term strategy. If GPs are to provide expanded services as part of this new model, it’s a no-brainer that we will need many more family doctors.”

The British Medical Association (BMA) has also voiced its frustration with recent government directives aimed at improving access to appointments. One controversial new rule, introduced at the start of this month, requires GP practices to keep online booking systems open from 8pm to 6.30pm on weekdays to allow patients to make non-urgent appointment requests.

While ministers say the policy is designed to make it easier for patients to contact their surgeries, many doctors argue it will only worsen the strain on already overstretched practices. The BMA has warned that without proper safeguards, the new system could lead to practices being overwhelmed by digital appointment requests overnight.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has defended the reforms, insisting that GPs “cannot cling on to outdated systems” and must embrace digital tools to meet patient expectations. However, his remarks have provoked anger within the profession, with some doctors warning that morale is at breaking point and hinting at possible industrial action if changes are forced through without consultation.

The dispute reflects a broader tension between government reform efforts and the day-to-day realities faced by GPs. Many within the profession say they are working longer hours than ever before, yet still unable to meet patient demand. Administrative work, paperwork, and compliance requirements continue to consume a significant portion of their time, leaving less room for face-to-face care.

A GP based in the Midlands, speaking anonymously, told The English Chronicle: “We’re doing our best, but ten minutes per patient is not enough. You can’t explore complex issues, mental health, or multiple chronic conditions properly in that time. We want to help people, but we’re being forced to choose between quantity and quality.”

The NHS has long grappled with how to improve access to GPs while maintaining standards of care. In recent years, the Government has introduced initiatives to expand the primary care workforce, including employing pharmacists, physician associates, and physiotherapists in GP practices. Yet many doctors argue these measures do not address the core issue: the shortage of fully trained GPs capable of providing comprehensive, holistic care.

Critics say the government’s targets for recruiting new doctors have repeatedly fallen short. According to NHS data, England is currently short of around 6,000 full-time equivalent GPs. Meanwhile, demand for appointments has risen by more than 30 per cent over the past decade.

The consequences of this imbalance are being felt not only by patients but also by healthcare staff. Increasingly, GPs report working 12-hour days, dealing with dozens of patients while also managing paperwork, referrals, and follow-up calls. For some, the strain has become unsustainable, leading to early retirement or a move into private practice.

Despite these challenges, Prof Hawthorne remains hopeful that policymakers will listen to the profession’s warnings. “Our members are dedicated, compassionate doctors who care deeply about their patients,” she said. “But they cannot continue to deliver safe, high-quality care without proper support. If we want a resilient NHS, we must start by protecting the people who keep it running.”

As the RCGP conference continues in Newport, the message from the profession is clear: time, investment, and respect are urgently needed to restore balance to general practice. Without them, both patients and doctors will continue to bear the cost of an overburdened system.