Depictions of the GP crisis: thematic analysis of UK newspapers pre-general election.

Abstract

In the 6 weeks between the announcement of the 2024 UK General Election (22 May) and election day (4 July), national newspapers published numerous articles depicting a 'crisis' in general practice. These portrayals varied across publications and may have influenced public discourse and political pledges. To explore how UK national newspapers depicted access to general practice during the 6 weeks preceding the 2024 General Election. Thematic analysis of UK national newspaper articles published in the pre-election period. Articles were retrieved from the LexisNexis® Academic database (now known as Nexis Uni®) using predefined search terms and inclusion and exclusion criteria. After screening, 194 articles were included and analysed thematically. Key themes identified were the crisis itself, spatially patterned concerns, access challenges for older people, consequences of poor access, and political promises. All newspapers articulated a 'GP crisis', although with distinct emphases. Inequalities featured prominently, with coverage highlighting rural GP shortages and difficulties for older patients. Articles frequently linked poor access with adverse outcomes, such as delayed or missed diagnoses, as well as wider system pressures, including strain on emergency services. Coverage was overwhelmingly negative, and political promises mirrored the crisis narrative presented in the press. In the run-up to the 2024 General Election, UK print media consistently portrayed general practice as being in crisis, often through sensationalised accounts of waiting times and limited access. These framings likely shaped public perception and influenced election pledges. Editorial choices played a key role in constructing dominant narratives around general practice and health policy discourse.