Demand for GP visits to grow 30% in next 15 years, with extra 1,200 doctors needed, report finds

The ESRI estimated GP consultations would grow from 19.4 million in 2023 to between 23.9 million and 25.2 million by 2040,

Demand for GP visits is expected to increase by as much as 30% in the next 15 years, with an extra 1,200 doctors needed to keep pace, new research has found.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) said healthcare reforms may reduce the pressure on hospital services in the medium term, but this will “inevitably increase the demand for general practice service in the coming years”.