How Many NHS GP Practices Are There in the UK? (Compared to Private Practices)
Getting a timely GP appointment through the NHS has never been more difficult. With NHS surgeries stretched thin by rising patient numbers and staff shortages, many people are left waiting days, or even weeks, for a consultation. Conversely, private clinics are expanding, offering quicker access for those willing to pay for speed and convenience.
This shift is changing the face of healthcare in the UK. More patients are looking beyond traditional NHS services, and practices are under pressure to adapt to new expectations around accessibility, efficiency, and service quality. One powerful tool helping practices on both sides of the divide is Artificial Intelligence.
In this article, we explore the current trends in NHS and private GP practices, why these changes are happening, and how AI assistants could play a role in helping practices manage demand, improve patient experience, and future-proof their operations.
NHS GP Practices: A Declining Trend?
As of December 2024, England had 6,277 NHS general practices in operation, marking the lowest number in recent years. This decline reflects a broader trend observed over the past decade.
Between 2013 and 2023, the number of NHS general practices in England decreased by 20%, dropping from 8,044 to 6,419. Concurrently, the average patient list size per practice increased by 40%, from 6,967 to 9,724 patients. This consolidation has led to larger practices managing more patients, potentially impacting service delivery and patient experience.
The Rise of Private GP Practices
In contrast to the NHS, the private GP sector has seen growth. By mid-2024, there were over 550 Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered services offering private GP consultations in the UK. However, estimating the total number of private GPs is challenging due to the diverse nature of private practice, which includes full-time private GPs, part-time locums, and NHS GPs who also see private patients.
This growth in private practices is driven by increasing patient demand for more accessible and flexible healthcare options, especially in urban areas.
How Can Practices and Patients Navigate This Changing Landscape?
For NHS surgeries, adopting AI voice agents can revolutionise patient access and staff efficiency. These agents can instantly answer every call, triage symptoms, book or cancel appointments, and escalate urgent cases—relieving pressure on front-desk teams and eliminating the frustration of engaged tones or unanswered calls. During peak hours like the 8 a.m. rush, they can handle thousands of calls simultaneously without the need for extra staff. By collecting structured symptom summaries and feeding them directly into clinical systems, they also provide GPs with valuable context, saving minutes per consultation.
Private clinics stand to benefit too. AI agents enable 24/7 patient access without the cost of a round-the-clock team, allowing patients to book late-night or weekend slots with ease. These systems support national scalability by providing a consistent, friendly voice experience across multiple locations, even in different languages if required. Additionally, automated reminders and simple rescheduling features help reduce no-shows and keep calendars full.
Patients themselves experience faster response times, leading to less frustration when seeking care. Intelligent triage ensures they’re directed to the right clinician the first time, while flexible out-of-hours booking options better accommodate those with demanding work or caregiving responsibilities.
Get a Free Trial with InTouchNow Today and Experience the Future of AI-Driven GP Support
NHS GP numbers are shrinking while private options multiply, but both sectors face the same access challenge: more callers than people to answer them. An AI voice-agent bridges that gap—giving patients faster service, relieving overworked staff and helping practices stay sustainable in a rapidly shifting primary-care market. If you’d like to see how an AI phone assistant could work in your surgery, book a demo with IntouchNow.ai today.