A new nationally representative survey reveals more than one in four Brits (27%) have visited emergency departments because of delays in accessing GP appointments.
More than one quarter (27%) of people of all ages have visited A&E because the waiting time to see a GP was too long.
41% of under 35s have visited A&E as an alternative to waiting for a GP appointment.
Regional data reveals that 45% of Londoners who responded to the survey have visited A&E rather than wait to see their GP.
New survey data reveals that more than a quarter (27%) of the public have visited A&E recently because the waiting time to access a GP appointment was too long, despite 2024 seeing a record high (370 million) GP appointments delivered.
Conducted by Savanta and commissioned by digital-first healthcare provider Livi, the findings also revealed that delays are leading to worsening of conditions or prolonged recovery, along with increasing costs to the public system based on the cost of a GP consultation versus an A&E attendance.
GPs and clinicians are also feeling the strain of the challenges facing the healthcare system.
Dr Dan Bunstone, Primary Care Network (PCN) clinical director for Warrington Innovation Network and lead GP said:
“As GPs, we see first-hand the strain on the system every day. We’re working in a landscape of chronic underfunding for innovation, severe staff shortages, and an ageing population with increasingly complex health needs. Demand is rising, and the resources to meet it simply aren’t there.”
Last month, the Government outlined its priorities for the NHS in 2025 and 2026 – including an objective to improve access to primary care services, and to invest in data and digital to improve productivity in primary care.
The results of this new survey demonstrate how urgently this action is needed, to tackle patient access, GP workload and workforce shortages to avoid pressures and rising costs reaching into other parts of the public system. Dr Bunstone explained that GPs are delivering more appointments than ever but need alternative solutions to help them to tackle the pressures of long waiting lists and workforce shortages:
“Patients deserve timely care, and GPs are constantly looking for ways that allow us to deliver care more effectively and empower our patients. Against all odds we are still delivering more appointments than ever. By embracing digital tools and integrating digital and physical care settings with services across primary and secondary care, we need continued investment in innovative solutions and system-wide coordination.”
Dr Kalle Conneryd Lundgren, Chief Executive Officer at Livi, who commissioned the research, commented on the findings:
*“The Government needs to act now. These findings confirm what we have long known: the crisis in A&E, hospital backlogs, and ‘corridor care’ all stem from a fundamental failure to provide timely, accessible care in the community. Patients are being left with nowhere else to turn, forcing them into inappropriate care settings and overwhelming an already stretched system and leading to increased costs.
“This isn’t just about more resources, nor is it about capacity. It’s about smarter solutions to boost efficiency and get more patients seen cost effectively. The Government must act now to invest in digital, empower ICSs to scale primary care, and fund proven solutions. By integrating digital and physical care, we can streamline referrals, optimise patient pathways, lower costs and improve access. Working together, we can build a system that works better for both patients and the workforce."*
