Number of GP practices in England falls

The number of open and active GP practices in England has fallen by over a thousand in eight years – at the same time as the number of registered patients in England has risen by over 4.8 million. The Royal College of GPs – representing over 54,000 family doctors across the UK – says the figures should convince the Government to take action to ensure GP practices have the funding, workforce and support they need to stay open, remaining at the heart of their local communities, close to patients’ homes.