GPs told to guarantee same-day appointments for urgent cases
BBC World
February 24, 2026
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GPs in England are now required to guarantee same-day appointments for patients with urgent health needs under a new contract. The government announced that this change will ensure quicker access to care for those who need immediate attention, with an additional £500 million allocated to GP services—a 3.6% increase in funding—to support this commitment. The move aims to address the long-standing issue of delayed access to urgent primary care, which has been a significant concern for patients and healthcare providers alike.
The new contract mandates that GPs monitor and achieve same-day appointments for at least 90% of eligible cases. This includes scenarios where patients exhibit symptoms requiring immediate treatment or face potential deterioration if not assessed promptly, such as children with high fevers and rashes or frail older individuals showing signs of confusion. While a 10% leeway is allowed to account for situations where same-day appointments may not be feasible, the government emphasizes that this change will improve access to urgent care.
However, the British Medical Association (BMA) has raised concerns, warning that these expectations could be unrealistic given the current strain on GP services. With patient numbers per GP increasing by nearly 20% over the past eight years, many practices are already struggling to meet demand. The BMA notes that only one in five patients believes GP services have improved in recent years, and a significant proportion find accessing care increasingly challenging.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted that this new requirement is part of broader reforms to enhance primary care access. Earlier changes include the introduction of online booking for non-urgent cases, aimed at reducing the "8am scramble" for phone appointments. The additional funding will bring GP service spending close to £14 billion, reflecting a significant investment in improving accessibility and quality of care.
Critics argue that previous
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/24/2026