Poorer areas in England suffer most from GP shortage, study finds

The gap between the number of GPs per patient in richer and poorer parts of England is widening, according to analysis by University of Cambridge.

The study for BBC Newsnight saw "stark inequalities" in GPs' distribution.

Separate BBC research also found patient satisfaction on measures such as how easy a practice is to reach by phone is lower in deprived areas.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it was focusing support on those who need it most.

Earlier this year, public satisfaction with GP care - as measured by the British Social Attitudes poll - fell to its lowest level across England since the survey began in 1983. The fall was widespread across all income groups.

The finding chimes with a Health Foundation analysis of official checks on the quality of services carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

It found practices serving patients living in the most deprived areas are more likely to receive CQC ratings of "inadequate" and "requires improvement" than those serving patients who live in the most affluent areas.

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Source: BBC News, 4 November 2022