Many practices have suspended routine appointments in the last year because of the pressures they have faced, according to a survey published today.

GP leaders say practices are adopting innovative measures, such as Skype triage, to improve the efficiency of consultations – but they are still struggling.

A survey by Pulse found that 17% of GPs reported having suspended routine appointments at some point in the past year. This often happened when practices found that appointments were booked for four weeks ahead – leading them to deploy spare slots for appointments only.

GP leaders warned that not taking routine appointments could mean a non-urgent issue becoming an emergency.

Royal College of GPs chair Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard said: “It’s huge testament to the hard work and dedication of GPs and our teams that more than 70% report not having had to turn a patient with a routine issue away – but for others, there simply are not the consultations to offer, or the GPs, to deliver them.

“We’re trying our best, and utilising innovative schemes, such as Skype or telephone triage or same day booking systems, to see as many patients as possible, prioritise their needs, and if appropriate, suggest an alternative healthcare professional in the community.

“But the pressures GPs and our teams are working under are unsustainable – our workload has escalated in volume and complexity in recent years, but investment in our profession is less than it was a decade ago, and GP numbers are actually falling.”