New figures from the NHS reveal that 31.4 million GP appointments were delivered in March 2025, a 6.1% increase on the same period last year and nearly 20% more than before the pandemic.
This increase, the NHS claims, is due to GP practices adopting digital services to help meet growing demand while ensuring patients are directed to the right care more efficiently.
Starting in October, all GP surgeries will be required to offer online appointment requests throughout working hours as part of a new contract, which aims to ease phone line pressure and allow smarter triaging based on medical need.
Currently, 99% of GP practices in England have already upgraded their phone systems, expanding capacity and reducing long waits for patients. Professor Bola Owolabi, NHS England’s director of healthcare inequalities, said in a statement: “GP teams are delivering over 30 million appointments a month, up nearly 20% on pre-pandemic levels. Patients can also manage repeat prescriptions and view test results through the NHS App, making care more convenient.”
The NHS has also announced that AI is enabling GPs and clinicians to cut the time spent on admin and increase the time and effort expended on patients. Data from AI trials shows an increase in patients seen by A&E, shorter appointments and more time by clinicians spent with the patient.
The trials were carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospitals (GOSH) and the Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre in East Hull, Yorkshire and involved 7000 patients. In the trials, generative AI was used to transcribe speech from consultations, known as ambient voice technology (AVT). This technology can create structured medical notes and draft letters to the patient. The AI generated outputs were edited and authorised by the clinicians and then uploaded to the electronic health records (EHR) system.
The trials have enabled the NHS to create and publish AI guidance, which focuses on the data compliance, security, risk identification and assessment requirements of AVT.
The NHS said the combination of digital adoption, an increased workforce, and smarter care navigation is laying the groundwork for more responsive and inclusive GP services.
