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<p>Information on the average waiting time for general practitioner (GP) appointments
at local and national level is not collected or held centrally.</p><p> </p><p>The
GP Patient Survey, published by NHS England, asks respondents across England how long
it took for them to see a GP or a nurse after contacting their practice. The full
set of survey releases can be found here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://gp-patient.co.uk/surveys-and-reports"
target="_blank">https://gp-patient.co.uk/surveys-and-reports</a></p><p> </p><p>According
to the latest release, published in July 2016:</p><p> </p><p>- Almost two in five
patients (37.6%) said that they were able to see or speak to someone on the same day
as initially contacting the surgery,</p><p>- One in ten (10.7%) saw someone on the
next working day,</p><p>- Three in ten patients (29.3%) saw or spoke to someone a
few days later,</p><p>- 18.6% waited a week or more to see or speak to someone.</p><p>This
does not take account of circumstances where patients express a preference to pre-book
an appointment for a later date.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to improving
access to general practice. By 2020, everyone will have access to routine evening
and weekend appointments.</p><p> </p>
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