Practices have delivered a record number of appointments, according to data published yesterday amid the simmering row over the switch to phone appointments.

British Medical Association sources announced a deal to scrap the controversial “name and shame” league tables, promoted by the government. But this was later denied by health secretary Sajid Javid.

According to NHS Digital, practices delivered an estimated 28,660,000 appointments in September, an increase of five million from August. 17.3 million were face to face and ten million by telephone. 14.4 million appointments involved GPs. In October 2019 practices had 30.8 million appointments but in September that year they undertook 26.4 million appointments.

BMA GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said: “The enormous jump in appointments in general practice in the last month, up by 4.7million, is a clear sign that GPs are working harder than ever to see as many patients as possible and clear the backlog. This is a testament to the dedication of GPs and practice staff who are going above and beyond to deliver care in exceptionally difficult circumstances, amid a persistent decline in the number of GPs and the implications of COVID safety measures on how care can be delivered.”

Royal College of GPs chair Professor Martin Marshall said: “Today’s figures highlight just how extremely hard GPs and our teams are working, caring for patients in their communities and alleviating pressures elsewhere in the NHS. The College has always been clear that post-pandemic, when it is safe, we would like to see a blend of in person and remote care being delivered in general practice, and that how GP care is accessed should be a shared decision between patient and clinician. This is clearly already happening – yet the narrative that remote care is sub-standard prevails and is concerning. Good, safe and personalised care can be delivered remotely, and it is not confined to general practice.”