Don't forget that the UK population is aging, the average age is now 40.5 years and 22.5% are 60 years and older. An aging population and fewer GPs means it's harder to see one. GP numbers started to decline in 2009 but it's not an even distribution - a bigger decline in poorer areas.
https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/new...-in-gp-numbers
The media seem to want to blame the GPs themselves but it's another case of underinvestment.
https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2234
Boris' recent comment hopefully doesn't reflect Conservative healthcare thinking (Oct2021):
“I’ve given you the most important metric – never mind life expectancy, never mind cancer outcomes – look at wage growth.