Patient satisfaction with London GP services is rising, and the government’s new NHS 10 Year Capital Plan, which unlocks one million extra appointments for Londoners every year, will drive it higher still.

New figures from the 2026 GP Patient Survey show a positive uplift in patients’ GP experience across London. Eight in ten Londoners (83%) find their GP practice’s reception and administrative team helpful, while six in ten (60%) say it is easy to contact their practice by phone.

The results continue an upward trend over the past two years, and patient experience is set to improve further. GP surgeries across London will receive a share of nearly £18 million (£17,849,600) to fund upgrades, creating capacity for nearly one million extra appointments each year (938,080).

These improvements, enabled by the government’s 10 Year Capital Plan, include converting unused rooms into consulting and treatment spaces, modernising buildings, and redesigning layouts so practices can see more patients.

One example is Woolstone Medical Centre in South East London. An under-used interview room has been transformed into a new clinical room – a £8,510 investment providing an estimated 5,000 additional patient appointments every year.

The 10 Year Capital Plan is backed by a record NHS capital budget, rising to £15 billion nationally by 2029–30. It replaces short-term, stop-start funding with a long-term commitment to rebuilding and modernising the NHS – delivering better, more accessible care for patients across the country.

Dr Chris Streather, Regional Medical Director for NHS London, said: “We know how much it matters to people to be able to see their GP quickly and conveniently, so this investment will make a real difference to patients and staff across London. Nearly one million extra GP appointments every year means patients can get the care they need faster, and closer to home.

“It’s encouraging to see patient satisfaction rising in London, and the investment will help us build on that progress. Woolstone Medical Centre shows what targeted investment can achieve, and we want to see that repeated right across the capital — for the benefit of both patients and the brilliant staff who care for them.”

Across England, almost 800 GP surgery upgrades have already been completed through a £102 million government investment, unlocking an estimated 9 million extra appointments nationally. A further £200 million has been committed to help more surgeries expand and modernise.

The plan also commits to 250 Neighbourhood Health Centres across the country, bringing GPs, diagnostic tests and community services together under one roof so patients can access care closer to home.

Minister of State for Health Karin Smyth said: “NHS patients – and the brilliant staff who care for them – deserve modern buildings, reliable equipment and services fit for the future.

“Too many NHS buildings are crumbling and outdated. This government is taking the long-term decisions needed to rebuild the health service.

“Our 10 Year Capital Plan backs that ambition with record investment and reforms that will help patients get faster appointments, better facilities, modern technology and more care closer to home for patients across the country.”

To fix crumbling NHS buildings, the government is investing at least £6.75 billion over nine years to repair hospitals and tackle the maintenance backlog, alongside a separate £2 billion programme to remove unsafe RAAC building material from affected hospitals.

The plan also outlines how surplus NHS land will be used to build affordable homes for healthcare workers such as nurses, porters and healthcare assistants, helping staff live closer to where they work in areas where housing costs are highest.