How has COVID-19 affected service delivery in GP practices that offered remote consultations before the pandemic?

How has COVID-19 affected service delivery in GP practices that offered remote consultations before the pandemic?
Health Foundation 16 July 2020

• Analysis of 51 GP practices using askmyGP prior to March 2020, and how primary care access, supply and demand has varied during COVID-19. Results suggest practices familiar with conducting appointments remotely were able to adapt quickly to the demands of COVID-19 and undertake more care remotely without significantly impacting the total number of consultations delivered.

Results

Consultation rates at askmyGP practices decreased by less than 1% between 1 March–30 June 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. Month on month changes for March, April, May and June in 2020 compared to 2019 were +3%, 0%, -15% and +11% respectively. Pre- and post- lockdown in March, consultation rates decreased by up to 17%, from 3.77 to 3.14 per person per year.
In contrast, national data suggests falls of up to 6%, 33% and 33% in March, April and May (latest available) respectively compared to 2019 figures, and up to 30% during March 2020.