Patients Struggling to Access GPs Are Flooding A&E in Record Numbers
A growing crisis in general practitioner (GP) access is forcing patients to seek emergency care in record numbers, with one in four resorting to Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments due to delays in securing a GP appointment, new research reveals.
A nationwide survey conducted by Savanta on behalf of digital healthcare provider Livi found that 27 percent of patients have had to visit A&E because they were unable to see a GP. The issue is even more severe among younger patients, with 41 percent of under-35s opting for emergency care rather than waiting weeks for a GP appointment. In London, the figures are even more alarming, with 45 percent of residents reporting they have turned to A&E due to difficulties accessing a GP.
NHS Under Unprecedented Pressure
Experts warn that the NHS is reaching breaking point, with hospitals struggling to cope as A&E departments experience their busiest year on record. In 2024 alone, there were 27.42 million A&E visits—a 7.1 percent increase from 2023, which saw 25.61 million attendances.
This influx is not only straining hospital resources but also exacerbating delays in treatment. Half of all patients surveyed reported that prolonged waiting times had worsened their conditions or left them suffering for longer than necessary.
Overcrowded and Understaffed
The Royal College of Nursing has highlighted the dire conditions in which medical professionals are working, with seven in ten nurses reporting they are delivering care in overcrowded and unsuitable environments. Some staff members are forced to treat patients in corridors, repurposed storage cupboards, and even car parks. In these makeshift settings, nurses and doctors are unable to access critical medical equipment such as oxygen, cardiac monitors, and suction devices, putting patients' lives at risk.
GP Services at Breaking Point
GPs insist they are delivering more appointments than ever before, yet patients still face significant delays. Current NHS data shows that while many patients wait up to three weeks to see their GP, one in 20 must wait at least four weeks, and one in six faces a delay of at least two weeks after booking an appointment.
Dr. Mashkur Khan, Regional Advisor for the Royal College of Physicians and a specialist in acute medicine, says the NHS’s original mission of providing comprehensive care "from cradle to grave" is no longer a reality. "GP services have been fragmented, and patients are getting anxious as they wait too long for appointments. They don’t know if their condition is serious or not, so they turn to A&E—even for reassurance. This means A&E departments are full to the brim, and patients with serious conditions are facing deadly delays."
The Numbers at a Glance
27 percent of patients have turned to A&E due to GP appointment wait times.
41 percent of under-35s have gone to A&E instead of waiting for a GP.
45 percent of Londoners say they have used A&E because they couldn’t see a GP.
The Future of Healthcare in Crisis
With NHS services stretched to their limits, the situation is worsening for both patients and healthcare professionals. Without urgent reforms to GP accessibility and A&E capacity, the system risks further deterioration, leaving patients with little choice but to endure long waits or seek emergency care unnecessarily.
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