https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/gp_face_to_face_appointments
Data on how the proportion of face-to-face GP appointments has been affected by covid.
https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/gp_face_to_face_appointments
coronavirus health nhs shareddataunit
Last synced: 2 months ago
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Data on how the proportion of face-to-face GP appointments has been affected by covid.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/gp_face_to_face_appointments
- Owner: BBC-Data-Unit
- Created: 2020-09-17T10:02:09.000Z (over 5 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2020-11-02T15:48:28.000Z (about 5 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-06-16T13:12:36.403Z (6 months ago)
- Topics: coronavirus, health, nhs, shareddataunit
- Language: R
- Homepage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54180359
- Size: 21.5 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 4
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
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Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Surgeries at face-to-face capacity, GP body warns
In September 2020, the BBC Shared Data Unit [reported](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54180359) how the number of GP appointments had reduced post-lockdown, with concerns from charities that some elderly people felt their GP was not "open for business".
It followed [a warning that week from the NHS](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54138915) that doctors should make sure face-to-face appointments were available where medically needed, or face fines.
The Royal College of GPs said those in the profession had been left "bemused" and "angry" from the NHS England letter, however, as previous guidance had been to limit in-person contact with patients.
There were concerns over patients 'coughing and spluttering' in waiting rooms.
We found that in no CCG area in England were GPs offering the same percentage of face-to-face appointments as pre-lockdown. Nationally, there were 21.7m face-to-face appointments in January 2020 but that fell to 11.2m in July 2020.
## Methodology
We used data from [NHS Digital on GP appointments](https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/appointments-in-general-practice) and collated them in R.
Graphics were made by the BBC England Data Unit for BBC news online.
The script to combine data and output the shared sheet is here:
* [gg_app_core_work.R](https://github.com/BBC-Data-Unit/gp_face_to_face_appointments/blob/master/gp_app_core_work.R)
## Data and story pack
We provide a story pack including expert quotes, background information and analysis to partners and the public.
* [Story pack](https://docs.google.com/document/d/17cnqOskspNvkiuPxi_alifQRoqvDn705sxCs_g7EV-k/edit?usp=sharing)
* [Data](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bIIzpEo53_eL7i0pA_rEJ9GPzruwtLxN0bdO1Iz-JtM/edit?usp=sharing)
## Partner usage
The Shared Data Unit makes data available to the wider news industry as part of the BBC Local News Partnerships. Stories generated by partners using this data are still being recorded.
* The Cumberland News & Star: [Half of patients in North and West Cumbria see GP in person](https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/18729397.half-patients-north-west-cumbria-see-gp-person/) *18 September 2020*
* Rochdale Online: [Face-to-face GP appointments on the increase again after lockdown](https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/136656/facetoface-gp-appointments-on-the-increase-again-after-lockdown) *24 September 2020*
* Isle of Wight Observer: [Dramatic fall in face-to-face GP appointments](https://iwobserver.co.uk/dramatic-fall-in-face-to-face-gp-appointments/) *21 September 2020*
* Wigan Today: [Face-to-face appointments with GPs plummet](https://www.wigantoday.net/health/face-face-appointments-gps-plummet-2980147) *23 September 2020*
## Related repos
You can [find all coronavirus-related stories by the BBC data units tagged 'coronavirus' here](https://github.com/search?q=topic%3Acoronavirus+org%3ABBC-Data-Unit&type=Repositories)