GeraClinic / Health Access Index / South West
South West: NHS Healthcare Access
In May 2026, South West scores 29.1 / 100 on the Gera Health Access Index (below average) — rank 7 of 7 NHS England regions. The score joins A&E, GP, ambulance, elective-wait and life-expectancy data into one access measure.
How good is NHS healthcare access in South West?
As of May 2026, South West has a Gera Health Access Index of 29.1 / 100 (below average), ranking 7 of 7 NHS England regions. A&E sees 57.3% within 4 hours, mean Category-1 ambulance response is 9m 22s, and 68.1% of elective pathways are within 18 weeks — real NHS England and ONS data.
Each component below is a real NHS England / ONS figure for South West, normalised 0–100 across the seven regions and weighted into the HHAI (see methodology). Higher = better access.
| Component | Sub-score | Real figure (source) |
|---|---|---|
| A&E (4-hour) | 0 / 100 | 57.3% within 4 hours (England 63.9%) |
| GP access | 13 / 100 | same-day + face-to-face − DNA composite = 97.3 |
| Ambulance (Cat 1) | 0 / 100 | 9m 22s Cat-1 mean (target 7m 00s) |
| Elective (RTT 18-week) | 94 / 100 | 68.1% within 18 weeks (England 64.9%) |
| Life expectancy | 79 / 100 | 82.3 years at birth (ONS, combined) |
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NHS healthcare access in South West: FAQs
- What is the Gera Health Access Index for South West?
- South West scores 29.1 / 100 on the Gera Health Access Index (below average), ranking 7th of the seven NHS England regions for overall healthcare access as of May 2026. The score combines A&E, GP, ambulance, elective-wait and life-expectancy data; higher means easier access.
- How fast do ambulances respond in South West?
- In South West, the mean NHS Category-1 (life-threatening) ambulance response time is 9m 22s, against the 7m 00s national target, incident-weighted across the region’s ambulance trust(s) from NHS England AmbSYS data (May 2026).
- How are A&E and GP access in South West?
- In South West, 57.3% of major (Type 1) A&E attendances are seen within 4 hours (England 63.9%), and 68.1% of elective (RTT) pathways are within 18 weeks. Life expectancy at birth in the region averages 82.3 years. All figures are real NHS England / ONS open data.
- Is South West better or worse than average for healthcare access?
- South West’s Gera Health Access Index is 29.1 / 100. The seven NHS England regions range from 29.1 (South West) to 77.3 (London), with a mid-point near 50, so South West is below the regional mid-point on whole-system access.
Skip the wait in South West
In South West, 57.3% of A&E patients are seen within 4 hours and 68.1% of elective pathways are within 18 weeks. GeraClinic can connect you to a UK-registered doctor today.
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Sources
Contains public sector information published by NHS England and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS England — A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions, Monthly Statistics (March 2026, published 2026-05-14).
Contains public sector information published by NHS England and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS England — Appointments in General Practice (April 2026, published 28 May 2026).
Contains public sector information published by NHS England and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS England — Ambulance Quality Indicators (AQI), AmbSYS (May 2026, published 2026-06-11).
Contains public sector information published by NHS England and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS England — Consultant-led Referral to Treatment (RTT) Waiting Times (April 2026, published June 2026).
Contains public sector information published by Office for National Statistics and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics — Life expectancy by local authority + Health state life expectancies (Healthy life expectancy), UK (2017-19).
Informational/educational only — not a substitute for professional medical advice; a clinician interprets results.