Our Report on GP Access in Harrow

Report - 24 April 2026

During February – April 2026, 91 local people completed our survey on access to GP services.

Downloads

What did we find out? Firstly, booking appointments is a challenge – while around half of respondents (46%) find it ‘easy’ to book, a significantly larger 54% do not.

Telephone access remains an issue. A quarter of respondents (26%) can usually make contact within one minute. A third (32%) usually wait five minutes and a sizeable 42% wait for ‘at least’ ten minutes, when phoning. Comments reflect congested lines, long queues, and faults (being disconnected).

Compared with last year, satisfaction with online booking has dropped. Respondents feel that online forms are more difficult to find (a 9% decrease in satisfaction) and use (22%).

When booking, two thirds of respondents (69%) have been offered a choice of consultation method (in-person, telephone, video) while a sizeable number (31%) have not. Just 31% are able to see their preferred GP or nurse.

A broad majority of respondents (84%) have experienced a remote appointment. Half (51%) feel that remote consultations have fully met their needs, while almost equally, 49% feel they have not.

Read more now in the full report.

File download
Download (PDF 695 KB)

You might also be interested in

GP Access Survey 2025

Our Report on Access to GP Services

The way we access local primary care services, such as GPs is evolving all the time. In recent years there has been a large shift towards remote services, with patients now booking online, and typically receiving their initial consultation (triage) through phone or video call.

Traditional methods, such as booking through the phone or in-person are on the decline, and this will affect certain groups with a support need – such as older people or those with a sensory disability.

Being able to see a GP of choice, or a GP at all, is also a recent challenge for some patients. Those with long-term, quite often complex needs value the continuity of seeing the same person, and often prefer a face-to-face relationship.

With all this change we launched a survey on access, completed by around 60 people from a range of ages and backgrounds.
Find out more

How has health and social care changed for you?

How Has Health & Social Care Changed for You?

Healthwatch Harrow hosted a forum at the Harrow Baptist Church on 29th November, attended by 75 people. The forum provided a space for residents to share changes they have experienced.

The event was opened by Healthwatch Chair, Ash Verma. The guest speakers and panellists were Lisa Henschen (Managing Director of Harrow Based Partnership), Shaun Riley (Assistant Director of Health and Wellbeing, Harrow Council) and Carrie Whelan and Gbemisola Akinterinwa (Team Managers at Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust). The programme included group discussions, presentations and a question and answer session.
Find out more