Experiences of access to general practice in England: qualitative study and implications for the NHS 10 year plan (BMJ, 14 January 2026)

Summary

The 10 Year Health Plan for England aims to “end the 8am scramble” and “restore the family doctor” through shifts to increased digitalisation, more community-based services and a greater focus on prevention. But how do people feel about these shifts, and how do they think they will affect access to primary care? This study from the THIS.Institute, published in the BMJ, involving interviews with patients, carers and staff, offers striking insights, suggests a mixed picture of impacts.

Content

Findings:

• Digitalisation: may offer convenience – but could risk continuity of care, does not increase supply of appointments with GPs, and risks excluding some patients.
• Community-based care: may increase options available, but dispersion of services across wider geographical areas could pose challenges for some patients and increase risks of fragmentation and burdens of coordination.
• Prevention: important but could add to already-saturated workloads. May also risk becoming task-focused and impersonal, and consume resource for patient-initiated care.

More clarity is needed about what patients can expect and what “good enough” looks like in terms of access, as is careful co-design and evaluation of the detail of the three shifts.