Drivers of primary care appointment volumes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study

The relationships between primary care appointment rates and the workforce composition and population age structure have changed following the COVID-19 pandemic. The proportion of registered patients over the age of 80 years is now the most significant time-varying driver of appointment rates. General practices serving older patients may face much higher demand and have a bigger challenge providing sufficient appointments in the future compared to before the pandemic.