GP Consultations
Nearly 9 in 10 take place in surgery
NHS GP Consultations, GB
In 2004/05, 87 per cent of NHS GP consultations in Great Britain took place in the GPs' surgeries, 9 per cent were over the telephone and 4 per cent were in the home. The proportion of consultations in the home has fallen by four fifths since 1971, from 22 per cent. Over the same period the proportions of consultations in the surgery or by telephone rose, from 73 per cent and 4 per cent respectively in 1971.
Among adults, the proportion of GP consultations that take place in the home increases with age. In 2004/05, 1 per cent of consultations for 16 to 44 year olds were in the home. This compares with 14 per cent of consultations for those aged 75 and over.
In 2004/05 14 per cent of adults and children saw an NHS GP in the 14 days before interview. This proportion has changed little in the previous 30 years. Females are more likely than males to consult a GP – 16 per cent of females and 11 per cent of males did so in the 14 days before interview in 2004/05. Females had an average of five NHS GP consultations per year whereas males had three.
In general, among adults, the likelihood of seeing a GP increases with age. For example, 12 per cent of adults aged 16 to 44 had consulted a GP in the 14 days before interview compared with 22 per cent of adults aged 75 and over.
Source: General Household Survey, Office for National Statistics
Notes: All GP consultations data refer to consultations in the 14 days before interview.
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