General practice teams across Kent and Medway are expanding, with more than 120 new recruits since last summer.
New figures, released by NHS Digital, show an additional 127 GPs, nurses and other health professionals, such as paramedics, physiotherapists and pharmacists, joined practices and primary care networks (PCNs) since August 2024.
Data also shows the total number of GPs is at its highest rate since May 2018.
It comes at a time when GP practices have never been busier, offering more than 11million appointments in 2024 - an extra 1.7million when compared to 2021 and 300,000 more than in 2023. More than half were within 48 hours.
The increase in staff is down to a range of initiatives, from incentive schemes including the new to practice programme, peer mentoring support and academic fellowships to the government’s additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS), which has been expanded to recruit newly qualified GPs into general practice.
Ash Peshen, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at NHS Kent and Medway, said: “This data shows our commitment to improving general practice and making it more accessible for the communities we serve.
“It’s clear the work we are doing is already making a big difference, from supporting practices to become sponsors for skilled workers to delivering a strategy to help meet the changing needs of primary care, with new ways of working focusing on access, proactive care and prevention.
“We know there’s more work to do to make sure everyone can access the right member of the general practice team in a timely way, but these figures show we are making good progress.”
Sukh Singh, Director of Primary and Community (Out of Hospital) Care at NHS Kent and Medway, added: “It’s really positive that we are seeing an increase in the numbers of GPs joining general practice, as well as other specialist healthcare professionals.
“These different roles treat and support patients according to their specific needs. It means you might not always see a GP, but you will be offered appointments with people who are skilled and able to help based on your needs.”
There are a range of healthcare professionals working in general practice to help patients get the best care at the right time. Find more information on our website.