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General Medical Practices in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Fiona Stalker Fiona Stalker London, United Kingdom Last Updated: August 2024 SIC Q86.210

Revenue

£16.1bn

2024-25

£16.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

183k

Businesses

7,122

Wages

£X.Xbn

General Medical Practices in the UK industry analysis

Publicly funded practices, who dominate the industry, continue to face mounting pressure. An ageing population, coupled with a rise in chronic illnesses like obesity and diabetes, has led to a surge in demand for healthcare services, whilst growth in government funding has been sluggish. General practices are facing growing staff shortages, with a noticeable decline in the number of fully qualified GPs. 10.5% of the under 40s GP workforce left the service in the year through March 2023 according to NHS Digital and the government's target of employing 6,000 GPs by 2024 hasn’t been met. This shortage has been exacerbated by a lack of resources and funding, leading to increased workloads and mounting stress among GPs. The industry has also witnessed the emergence of private-sector providers as a competitive alternative for patients seeking faster access to healthcare services. Low disposable income, amid high inflation, has squashed some demand for private care and but long NHS waiting times for appointments has caused demand for private providers to rise.  

Trends and Insights

  • The number of GPs edges downwards. Vacancies in primary care teams are unfilled and more GPs are leaving the profession, exacerbating workforce shortages. At the same time, the number of GPs working full-time hours is dipping.
  • Most NHS GP's funding comes from global sum payments. These are calculated based on the number of patients, prevalence of long-term illnesses and average staff costs.
  • London has a high share of private general medical practices. It’s high disposable income lets residents spend more on medical services, drawing private practices to the capital to take advantage of stronger demand.
  • More general medical practices close down. The COVID-19 pandemic caused some practices that were already suffering from tight profitability and limited funding to shut up shop. Severe budget pressures have kept practices closing.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £16.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

An ageing population is propelling demand for healthcare

  • Medical improvements have increased life expectancy, leaving the elderly accounting for a greater proportion of the population and lifting GP demand.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
General Medical Practices in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Government plans aim to address workforce shortages

  • GPs will continue to struggle with staff shortfalls whilst appointment demand remains high, with the Health Foundation anticipating shortages to expand to 8,800 by 2031.

Biggest companies in the General Medical Practices in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
The British United Provident Association Ltd
239.0
HCRG Care Services Ltd
69.2
IntraHealth Ltd
27.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

General Medical Practices in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including National Health Service , Private practices and Treatments. National Health Service is the largest segment of the General Medical Practices in the UK.

Trends and Insights

There's significant pressure on the National Health Service to cope with the surge in demand for GP services

  • Most NHS GPs' funding comes from global sum payments - these payments are calculated based on a few factors, including the number of patients, prevalence of long-term illnesses and average staff costs.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The General Medical Practices industry is composed of general practitioners and their staff. Companies offer general medical consultations and treatment. Specialist medical treatment and paramedics are excluded from the industry.

What's included in this industry?

National Health ServicePrivate practicesPrescriptionsTreatmentsAccident or sickness certificatesHealth club reports

Companies

The British United Provident Association LtdHCRG Care Services LtdIntraHealth Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

PRIMARY CAREGENERAL PRACTITIONER (GP)CLINICAL COMMISSIONING GROUP (CCG)INTEGRATED CARE SYSTEMS (ICS)LOCUM DOCTOR

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 86.21 - General Medical Practices in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The number of GPs edges downwards. Vacancies in primary care teams are unfilled and more GPs are leaving the profession, exacerbating workforce shortages. At the same time, t...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Most NHS GP's funding comes from global sum payments. These are calculated based on the number of patients, prevalence of long-term illnesses and average staff costs.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

London has a high share of private general medical practices. It’s high disposable income lets residents spend more on medical services, drawing private practices to the capi...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

More general medical practices close down. The COVID-19 pandemic caused some practices that were already suffering from tight profitability and limited funding to shut up sho...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

No company holds a significant share of the market. The General Medical Practices industry is highly fragmented, made up of lots of small operations. Public operations hold m...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of The British United Provident Association Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of HCRG Care Services Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of IntraHealth Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for The British United Provident Association Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for HCRG Care Services Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for IntraHealth Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

An ageing population drives up demand. Older people tend to have more health problems, so make more use of medical services. Steady growth in the over 65s age group continues...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Public-sector domination holds down profit. Profit is low because the industry is dominated by NHS practices, which obtain their revenue through government funding and fundin...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £16.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 7,122 businesses in the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the General Medical Practices in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the General Medical Practices market in United Kingdom are The British United Provident Association Ltd, HCRG Care Services Ltd and IntraHealth Ltd

What does the General Medical Practices in the UK in United Kingdom include?

National Health Service and Private practices are part of the General Medical Practices in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the General Medical Practices in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is The British United Provident Association Ltd.

How competitive is the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the General Medical Practices in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

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Competitors

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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