NHS in York and North Yorkshire 'delivering more GP appointments compared to pre-pandemic'
The NHS says patients in York and North Yorkshire booked more than 392,000 appointments with their GP practice in September 2021 – almost 10% more than in the same month in 2019.
Last updated 24th Nov 2021
In the Vale of York area there were almost 10,000 more appointments booked and in North Yorkshire there were 24,000 more appointments scheduled compared to September 2019.
The NHS Digital data shows 361,432 of all September 2021 appointments in both areas were kept by patients, with more than 225,000 appointments taking place 'in person'.
NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group Chair, Dr Charles Parker, said:
"In September of this year, practices in York and North Yorkshire delivered around 34,000 more appointments than in September 2019, with patients able to access a wide range of health professionals in person, over the phone and online.
"While the number of face-to-face appointments available is limited because of the COVID infection and prevention measures which remain in place in healthcare settings to protect staff and patients who may be vulnerable, it's worth noting that around two thirds of appointments in North Yorkshire and York practices in September were in-person.
"This blended mix of appointments is helping practices meet demand, though we acknowledge some patients prefer to be seen in-person, even if the issue is something than can be dealt with over the phone."
NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group Chair, Dr Nigel Wells, said:
"Practices across York and North Yorkshire are working hard to give as many appointments to patients as possible and these latest figures show how we are continuing to deliver care whist handling the added pressure coronavirus has brought.
"Seeing patients face-to-face continues to be important when there is a clinical need and as we enter into the peak of our winter months, we strongly encourage that if you have been contacted by your GP surgery inviting you for a coronavirus or flu vaccination, you make an appointment. Equally if you have a health concern, do come forward and your local GP surgery will do its best to give you the very best care and support."
Data also revealed that some 12,000 appointments in North Yorkshire and York were recorded as 'did not attends', with most of those face-to-face slots.
Dr Wells adds:
"With such high levels of demand, it's important that no appointments are wasted. While it's heartening to see the vast majority of appointments are attended, if you're in a position where you've made an appointment with your GP practice, but no longer need it or you're unable to make it, it would be much appreciated if you could get in touch with your practice to cancel that appointment so it can be given to another patient.
"If you have a minor ailment, you may also want to consider visiting your local pharmacy – they can give you expert help and advice and effective over-the-counter remedies for a wide range of short-term conditions.
"NHS 111 – online, via the NHS App or over-the-phone – is also there for you if you have a medical problem but you're not sure where to go."
Breakdown of figures
The latest NHS Digital data shows there were more than 390,000 appointments booked with GP practices in the North Yorkshire and Vale of York CCG areas in September 2021.
Approximately half of all booked appointments in that month were with a doctor – 113,613 appointments were booked with a GP in the North Yorkshire CCG area and 71,865 appointments were with a GP in the NHS Vale of York CCG geography.
More than 60% of the appointments in September were in-person with 155,898 face-to-face appointments booked with GPs and other practice staff in North Yorkshire and 95,351 face-to-face appointments with doctors and other GP practice staff in Vale of York.
And the data for September shows almost half of all booked appointments were either same day or next day, with more than 110,000 same day or next day appointments booked with GP surgeries in North Yorkshire in September and more than 72,000 same day or next day appointments booked with GP surgeries in Vale of York.