Statistics
How we count the work done in GP practices, what the figures can and cannot tell us, and where to read more.
Reading the figures carefully
Numbers about advice work are easy to misread. A count of enquiries does not measure how many problems were solved, and a total for one year may hide a sharp change in one practice. The figures on this page are presented as they were recorded, with notes on what each measure includes.
We publish counts of sessions held, people seen and issues raised. We do not publish estimates where the underlying records are incomplete, and we say so when a figure has been revised.
What we count
Each contact is recorded once, at the point it is opened. A single visit may raise several issues, such as debt and housing together, and each is counted separately. This means the number of issues is always higher than the number of people seen.
Repeat contacts on the same case are linked to the original record, so that the number of cases is not inflated by follow-up calls.
A figure is only useful when the person reading it knows what was counted, when, and by whom.
Patterns in the records
Over the period covered, the most common subjects raised in surgery sessions were benefits, debt and housing. Employment questions were less frequent but often more urgent, particularly where sick pay had ended or a return to work was being discussed.
- Benefits and income questions form the largest group of issues
- Debt cases tend to take the longest to resolve
- Housing issues are most often linked to damp, repairs and notices
- Employment queries rise after periods of long-term illness
Limits of the data
Records depend on what patients choose to tell advisers, and not every visit is written up in full. Practices differ in how many sessions they host each week, so comparisons between surgeries should be made with care. Where a practice has joined the partnership recently, its early figures reflect a shorter period of operation.
We would rather publish an incomplete picture honestly than a complete one that overstates what we know.
How figures are updated
Counts are reviewed at the close of each quarter. Any correction is noted beside the affected figure, with the date of the change. Earlier versions remain available on request so that readers can trace how a number has moved.
For the people behind the numbers, read the case studies. For questions about how a figure was produced, the frequently asked questions explain the method in more detail.
Figures will be revised as records are completed. Please check the date on each table before citing it.
Looking at the whole picture
A single number rarely settles a question about advice in general practice. The better test is whether a patient who needed help received it in time, and whether the surgery could see the difference. The records are one way of answering that, and we intend to keep improving them alongside the people who use the service.