Public Concern Grows Over GP Access and NHS ‘Front Doors’

Blog - 3 June 2026

New national polling shows deepening concern about access to GP appointments and A&E — issues that shape everyday experiences of care in Greenwich.

Rising Pressure on the NHS Entry Points 

A new Health Foundation briefing, based on polling of 2,214 people conducted by Ipsos in December 2025, paints a stark picture of public sentiment towards the NHS. Views remain negative overall, with more people reporting that the standard of NHS care has worsened over the past year and expecting further decline. 

 

Access to GP appointments and A&E waiting times now sit jointly as the public’s top priorities for the NHS. Concern about delays in A&E has risen sharply since the 2024 General Election, while issues such as staff recruitment are viewed as less urgent than before. 

 

One of the most striking findings is that nearly half of people who had a health concern in the previous 12 months avoided or delayed contacting their GP — a sign of significant unmet need and a system struggling to meet demand. 

 

The briefing also highlights that while reforms such as online booking and seeing non‑GP clinicians are broadly welcomed, ambitions to shift more care into communities risk being undermined without stronger investment in general practice. 

 

What This Means for People in Greenwich 

These national findings mirror what many in Greenwich experience daily: difficulty securing GP appointments, long waits at A&E, and uncertainty about where to turn when health concerns arise. When nearly half of people delay seeking help, conditions worsen, pressure builds, and inequalities deepen. 

 

For Greenwich, the message is clear — strengthening access to primary care is essential to preventing avoidable crises, supporting early intervention, and ensuring people feel confident approaching services when they need them. 

 

Where to Get Help and Support 

If you need advice, support or help navigating local health services: 

  • NHS 111 – 24/7 urgent medical advice: 111.nhs.uk 

  • Greenwich Health (GP Access Hubs) – evening & weekend GP appointments:   Tel: 020 8319 5401 

  • Healthwatch Greenwich  

 

Read full report Here 

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