General practice teams across Dorset delivered an impressive 5.7 million appointments in 2025, reflecting the huge level of demand. That is around 232,000 more appointments than in 2024, an increase of just over 4%.
Appointments include face-to-face visits and telephone consultations. This year, in January alone, there were 317,000 face-to-face appointments, and 224,000 appointments were seen on the same day the person contacted their practice.
This means GP teams are now delivering around 15,600 appointments every day across Dorset.
Behind every appointment are GPs, nurses, pharmacists, healthcare assistants, reception teams and many other staff working together to support patients.
Dr Forbes Watson, Chair of the Dorset General Practice Alliance, said, “Across Dorset, general practice teams are delivering more appointments than ever before as demand for health care continues to rise.
“We’re seeing more people needing our help, often with more complex health needs. New online triage tools and the extended hours we now provide, including evening and weekend appointments through local primary care networks, mean people can get support at more times of the week.
“Our teams are working incredibly hard to meet this demand and make sure everyone receives timely, high‑quality care.”
Rob Payne, Head of Primary Care at NHS Dorset said, “General practice is the front door to the NHS for most people. These figures highlight the dedication of local teams and the critical role primary care plays in providing care closer to home, helping patients navigate services and meet the growing demand for care across Dorset.
“We continue to work closely with general practices to support access, improve services and ensure patients receive the right care at the right time.”
General practice is often the first place people turn when they need help. These figures show the scale of care delivered every day in the local community.
Find out more about local general practice, other healthcare services and tips to staying well www.staywelldorset.nhs.uk.
