Rurality has been cited as factor that determines the demands each patient places on a GP.

In a written parliamentary question, Streatham Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy asked: “What ratio of patients to GPs is considered safe in the development of general practice policy?”

Pharmacy minister Maria Caulfield answered: “There is no recommendation for how many patients should be allocated to a general practitioner (GP), as the demand each patient places on their GP can be affected by various factors, including rurality and patient demographics. GPs form part of a multidisciplinary team, therefore ensuring the appropriate skills are available in general practice can address workload pressures and deliver appropriate patient care.”