Thanks to modern technology, GPs are able to provide millions more appointments to patients across England, as shown by new figures released today (25th April 2025).

Data shows there were 31.4 million GP appointments in March, which is a 6.1 per cent increase on the same period a year earlier.

At Lingwell Croft Surgery in Leeds, patients with digital access use online consultation forms to book an appointment, and voice recognition technology is used as part of their telephone contact system. Patients’ voice messages are automatically and immediately transcribed, allowing them to be efficiently triaged and directed to the right health professional.

Two GPs work alongside two care navigators to triage requests, with GPs prioritising the most complex cases an other patients directed to more appropriate care for their needs.

Thus, GP surgeries are modernised as patients request services online, freeing up phone lines for those who needed them most and making it easier for practices to triage patients based on medical need.

Almost ever (99 per cent) GP practice in England has also upgraded their phone tech with the move, meaning that phone lines can be expanded.

Professor Bola Owolabi, a GP and NHS England’s director of healthcare inequalities said: “Improving access to general practice is an NHS priority and GP teams are delivering 30 million appointments every month — up almost a fifth since before the pandemic.

“Thanks to GPs and their hardworking teams more than a million appointments were delivered each working day last month, up by almost 20 per cent compared with the same period pre-pandemic with plans in place to improve access even further.

“Patients can also use the NHS app to order repeat prescriptions and view their test results without needing to contact their family doctor.”