Cogora Access All Areas White Paper

Our Access All Areas White Paper is the latest from Cogora’s editorial and insight. GP access is the biggest issue facing patients in the NHS. Bringing together the knowledge and reach of all our award-winning primary care brands, Cogora’s latest white paper covers the issue in a way it has never been covered.

While access is usually and understandably seen from the point of view of patients, this white paper uses Cogora’s unmatched reach of primary care professionals to produce a comprehensive, in-depth look into it from the standpoint of those dealing with the issue of a day-to-day basis – general practice staff.

We have surveyed more than 2,000 primary care professionals, conducted interviews with more than 100 and analysed more than 20 sets of data on every practice in England to develop a series of recommendations on how we can solve the problems around access.

The report asks what access is, looking at all the various forms, from waiting times, to appointments with GPs, to face-to-face consultations and being able to contact the practice through the phone or online. It looks into what patients prioritise around access, and what general practice staff see as most important.

We ask whether there can be a system in which GP practices can offer everything require – face to face appointments with the appropriate member of staff at a convenient time – while maintaining quality of care. We look at systemic issues around workforce, funding, deprivation and patient demographics to see what is holding practices back, and how policy-makers can address structural barriers.

The report evaluates the various schemes that have been implemented to improve access, and looks at what has been lost in the rush for more appointments. It concludes by looking at the importance of continuity of care, and provides policy-makes with a list of potential solutions.

Download the white paper in full here.

This is the second major white paper produced by Cogora, following our report on workforce in January 2025. This paper launches today at a panel event in Liverpool during the Labour Party conference, which will be attended by GP leaders and MPs.

This report is coming out at a vital time for general practice. The Government’s 10 Year Plan proposes a reconfiguration of general practice, and the most significant GP contract negotiations for more than 20 years are due to take place before the end of this Parliament. This report is going to inform the debate at this crucial time.

Commercial partner of this white paper: General Practice Solutions

Cogora will be continuing to produce more of these heavyweight reports throughout 2026, using our knowledge of primary care data and unparalleled access to professionals within the sector.

For more information on these reports and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jaimie Kaffash [email protected].