Midlands Decision Support Network -
This paper explores the long-term trends in GP practice consultation rates. It uses two research databases, Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Gold and Aurum, to estimate consultation rates between 1995 and 2022. The paper considers all interactions between a patient and a healthcare professional: face-to-face consultations in the GP practice, consultations conducted by telephone, or using digital technologies, and visits made to the patient. The results are set out alongside (1) estimates from other studies, (2) new data on GP appointment rates, (3) GP patient survey results, (4) information about the GP practice workforce and its workload, and (5) data on other important forms of GP Practice activity.