There are now 6,229 active practices in England, down 14 per cent on seven years ago
Mike Kemp/ Getty Images via The Times
Over the past few years, more than 1,000 GP surgeries in England have closed, averaging around two per week. This has left the remaining doctors caring for more patients about 2,257 each, up from just over 2,000 in 2018. As a result, patients are having to travel further for appointments, and older people with long-term conditions are struggling to get the consistent care they need .
The closures have been blamed on chronic underfunding, heavy workloads, and poor workforce planning. Professor Kamila Hawthorne from the Royal College of GPs warns that these problems are creating a serious crisis in primary care. In response, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has proposed a ten-year plan to build neighbourhood health centres and “super-surgeries” that offer a wider range of services locally. Some critics worry this could undermine traditional GP practices, though the Department of Health insists GPs remain at the heart of NHS reform, pointing to recruitment successes and more funding for community care.
Reference:
Streeting, W. (2025, September 8). Two GP surgeries are closing their doors every week. The Times. Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250908083008/https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/two-gp-surgeries-are-closing-their-doors-every-week-rzz3rpbv7
