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https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/seven-day-gp-access

Millions miss out on seven-day GP access
https://github.com/bbc-data-unit/seven-day-gp-access

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Millions miss out on seven-day GP access

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# Millions miss out on seven-day GP access



![](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/7BBF/production/_102697613_chart-nogp_provision-isoyi-nc.png)



In July 2018 the BBC Shared Data Unit [reported](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-44938759) there were more than five million people across England who were unable to book an appointment with a GP outside of working hours, when all patients were due to have full extended access by 1 October 2018.



Labour accused the government of "breaking its promises".



NHS England said it was still on target to provide access to extended care for all patients by the 1 October deadline.



Our analysis showed:



- More than 22 million people - or 40% of patients registered with GPs - had "seven-day 8am to 8pm" access to GPs - defined as full provision by NHS England

- Just over half the population had access to partial provision. This is when a GP practice can offer the minimum of ninety minutes of bookable appointments once a week

- Only two areas offered full provision to GPs for all patients

- Some 5.4 million people - or 10% of patients - had no access to GPs outside of normal working hours



This piece of content was produced by a regional correspondent for ITV working alongside BBC staff.



The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the BBC and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:



* The Daily Mail: [Millions left out of 7-day GP appointments: 60% of people do not have full evening and weekend access to their family doctor](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6007397/Millions-not-evening-weekend-access-family-doctor.html) *30 July 2018*

* The i: [Over five million people are unable to book GP appointments outside of working hours](https://inews.co.uk/news/health/five-million-gp-appointments/) *30 July 2018*

* Blackpool Gazette: ['Your doctor won't see you now'](https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/health/your-doctor-won-t-see-you-now-1-9275153) *29 July 2018*

* Wigan Today: [Wigan GPs are best for evenings and weekends](https://www.wigantoday.net/news/wigan-gps-are-best-for-evenings-and-weekends-1-92758410) *30 July 2018*

* North Wales: The Leader Live: [North Wales: More doctors needed if out-of-hours services to be extended](http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/16385999.north-wales-more-doctors-needed-if-out-of-hours-services-to-be-extended/) *30 July 2018*

* Lancashire Telegraph: [GP access special report: 'My GP surgery is doing its best in difficult times'](http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/16385460.gp-access-special-report-my-gp-surgery-is-doing-its-best-in-difficult-times/) *30 July 2018*

* Lancashire Telegraph: ['Supermarket style' 24/7 health service is unrealistic – Blackburn GP](http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/16385462.supermarket-style-247-health-service-is-unrealistic-blackburn-gp/) *30 July 2018*

* Northern Echo: [Wide disparity in patients with access to extended GP opening hours](http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/16384998.wide-disparity-in-patients-with-access-to-extended-gp-opening-hours/) *30 July 2018*

* Nantwich News: [Thousands of GP patients in South Cheshire still without full out of hours access](https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2018/07/30/thousands-of-gp-patients-in-south-cheshire-still-without-full-out-of-hours-access/) *30 July 2018*

* Knutsford Guardian: [Knutsford patients set to get more time to access GP services](http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/16385877.knutsford-patients-set-to-get-more-time-to-access-gp-services/) *30 July 2018*

* The Yorkshire Post: [Millions still lack out-of-hours access to GPs](https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/millions-still-lack-out-of-hours-access-to-gps-1-9274870) *30 July 2018*

* Portsmouth: The News: [New Portsmouth hub ends patients’ lack of seven-day GP access](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/health/new-portsmouth-hub-ends-patients-lack-of-seven-day-gp-access-1-8583668) *30 July 2018*

* Kent Online: [Kent patients struggle to book GP appointments outside working hours](http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/when-you-get-an-answer-all-the-appointments-have-gone-187175/) *30 July 2018*

* Dorset: Daily Echo: [Dorset CCG 'on plan' to have all GP surgeries offer extended hours by October](http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/16385446.dorset-ccg-on-plan-to-have-all-gp-surgeries-offer-extended-hours-by-october/) *30 July 2018*

* Ledbury Reporter: [Herefordshire among top performing areas for GP access at evenings and weekends](http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/16388610.herefordshire-among-top-performing-areas-for-gp-access-at-evenings-and-weekends/) *31 July 2018*

* Dewsbury Reporter: [North Kirklees CCG to roll out evening and weekend GP appointments](https://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/north-kirklees-ccg-to-roll-out-evening-and-weekend-gp-appointments-1-9278226) *31 July 2018*

* Devon Live: [Seven day GP access is still yet to become reality](https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/seven-day-gp-access-still-1844975) *31 July 2018*

* Northumberland Gazette: [REVEALED: Patients' access to out-of-hours GPs in Northumberland](https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/health/revealed-patients-access-to-out-of-hours-gps-in-northumberland-1-9278538) *31 July 2018*

* Northampton Chronicle & Echo: [Seven-day GP access is a long way off in Northamptonshire as study reveals only two surgeries at Nene CCG offer 'full provision'](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/seven-day-gp-access-is-a-long-way-off-in-northamptonshire-as-study-reveals-only-two-surgeries-at-nene-ccg-offer-full-provision-1-8584600) *31 July 2018*

* Ilkley Gazette: [Work goes on to try to give residents better access to GPs](http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/16388004.work-goes-on-to-try-to-give-residents-better-access-to-gps/) *1 August 2018*

* Liverpool Echo [Why is it so hard to get a GP out of hours in Merseyside?](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/hard-gp-out-hours-merseyside-14978832) *2 August 2018*



* The story was also used by the BBC News Channel, BBC Radio 5 Live, [BBC Wales](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-44982690), [BBC Radio Merseryside](https://drive.google.com/file/d/19j87oTXFIfz6J648osCQIfwQr-5SVlxi/view?usp=sharing), [BBC Radio Kent](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b-WHWfa0X1prN8DPz-zGt7haxMUfbkIp/view?usp=sharing), BBC Hereford & Worcester, BBC Somerset, BBC Surrey, BBC Radio Nottingham, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, BBC Cumbria, BBC Radio Humberside



## Get the data



  * [Extended access to GPs data](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xk1_9ZeD1XWO20pcAGZbxlqj9gmBOe6LWmwOgfTTBCE/edit#gid=838396479)



## Visualisation



* [Bar chart: Areas with the most patients without access to GPs outside of working hours](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/7BBF/production/_102697613_chart-nogp_provision-isoyi-nc.png)

* [Bar chart: Percentage of patients with full provision of extended access to GPs outside of working hours](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/B0FD/production/_102690354_chart-full_provision_regions-xn7u2-nc.png)



## Background and briefing



* [Project briefing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Uq6uJGg0O4WdRo7ZO-5WvHg2ecIfcnJHrjiL8U4u2M/edit#heading=h.z6ne0og04bp5)