Local GP practices delivered over 71,000 more appointments for residents during June and July compared to last year, as the NHS records its busiest summer ever in general practice.
Typically, the summer months see a slow-down in NHS activity, but this year practices have been dealing with a surge in people coming forward for care. Over 616,000 appointments were delivered locally in July 2025, an increase of 3.9% compared July 2024, following a record 575,000 appointments in June 2025, a 9.2% jump from the previous year.
Increasing use of online consultation systems that support total triage are helping GP practices to manage demand and make sure patients get timely care based on their clinical needs. They also help free up telephone lines for patients that prefer or need to contact their practice in other ways. Local NHS data shows more patients in mid and south Essex are using these tools than ever before, with a 111% increase in patients using their GP practice’s online consultation system to book and manage appointments.
More consultations taking place in pharmacies
Pharmacy services also saw a huge rise in demand this summer. The Pharmacy First scheme enables patients to receive care and treatment where necessary for a range of minor illnesses, without needing a GP appointment. In July 2025, over 6,000 Pharmacy First consultations were delivered, up 12.9% on June and 17.9% on May.
The greatest rise in demand was for infected insect bites, with almost 2,000 consultations delivered. This is more than double that of July 2024, reflecting the trend reported by NHS England that website visits for NHS advice on bites and stings soared this summer amid a summer wasp boom.
More patients also turned to their local pharmacy for advice and treatment for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), with a 40% increase in Pharmacy First consultations in July 2025 for uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) compared to July 2024.
Recognising the efforts of local healthcare teams
William Guy, Director of Primary Care at NHS Mid and South Essex said:
We know there is further work to be done to make access to GP-led services easier. But I’d like to recognise the incredible efforts of local healthcare teams this summer in responding to unprecedented demand and delivering timely, high-quality care for patients.
“Local efforts to improve patient access to care are helping deliver more appointment than ever before. Along with more options for healthcare advice and treatment available at local pharmacies, these approaches are helping ensure patients are seen more quickly by the right person, in the right place, at the right time.
More patients reporting positive experiences of online tools
Ray R. from mid Essex, 74, said that being able to contact his GP practice through their online consultation system when he had a leg injury was a big help.
He said: “Our surgery now uses online consultation as a non-urgent way of contacting the surgery. I found this brilliant while suffering from a torn calf muscle. It enabled me to contact the doctor without wasting an appointment.
“This service greatly helped with getting advice and gave the team information to allow them to decide the next step. It saved their time and mine.”
The data release follows the recent publication of the annual GP Patient Survey report, which showed improved satisfaction levels for local residents accessing GP and pharmacy services. According to this year’s results, more patients are finding it is easy to contact their GP on the phone, via the website or through the NHS App – up 4% from last year.
In addition to GP practice improvements, 90% of survey respondents also had a good overall experience of pharmacy services.
For more information on services patients can access from their local pharmacy, visit
Pharmacy ServicesFor more information on local work to improve patient access to general practice, visit
Making it easier to access GP services