{{Short description|Phenomenon associated with GP practices in the United Kingdom}} The '''8am scramble''', also known as the '''8am rush''', is a phenomenon associated with GP practices in the United Kingdom. In it, GP practices would open both their phone lines and online triage interfaces for new appointments promptly at 8am, and almost immediately close them again once the practice was "at capacity" for that day, acting as a ''de facto'' form of healthcare rationing. This was a major cause of patient dissatisfaction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-28 |title=GPs in England strike deal to help end '8am scramble' for appointments |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd7ee895nr0o |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> This particularly affected older patients, who found it hard to compete in the "scramble".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Donnelly |first=Laura |last2=Parker |first2=Fiona |last3=Butcher |first3=Ben |date=2024-09-14 |title=Elderly ringing GP for help are ‘giving up’ on NHS treatment after failing to get through |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/14/elderly-patients-gp-nhs-treatment-phone-failure-contact/ |access-date=2026-01-18 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
This was caused by the combination of increasing patient needs due to an aging and expanding population, and lack of GP capacity due to retirement and lack of new supply. Those patients who failed to get a place in the "scramble" would either be forced to join the scramble the next day or seek treatment at urgent care or accident and emergency facilities. According to the UK government, 6.6% of patients unable to book GP appoinments would seek emergency care rather than GP care as a result of this, further overleading emergency services.<ref name=":0" />
On the introduction of the NHS app, the "scramble" phenomenon was seen there also, caused by patient familiarity with having to call at 8am.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dresner |first=Josh |date=14 October 2019 |title=Why is there an 8am rush on the NHS App? |url=https://digital.nhs.uk/blog/transformation-blog/2019/why-is-there-an-8am-rush-on-the-nhs-app |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=NHS England Digital |language=en}}</ref>
In October 2025, the government ordered that practices in England would be required to keep their online booking interfaces open from 8am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, in an attempt to eliminate the 8am scramble.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vesty |first=Helena |date=2025-10-01 |title=What do the new rules for GP surgeries mean for patients and doctors? |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/what-new-rules-gp-surgeries-32590405 |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Online GP appointment requests available everywhere from today |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/online-gp-appointment-requests-available-everywhere-from-today |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> This was part of the introduction of a new GP contract in England that provided extra resources for GP practices to deal with increased patient load.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 February 2025 |title=GPs accept deal to end ‘8am scramble’ for appointments |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-02-28/gps-accept-deal-to-end-8am-scramble-for-appointments |access-date=18 January 2026 |website=itvX}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Healthcare in the United Kingdom
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