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Survey finds patients increasingly positive about their GP surgery

Survey finds patients increasingly positive about their GP surgery
8 July 2016



Patients are increasingly happy with the care they receive from their GP a new survey shows.

The GP Patient Survey 2016 found that, of more than 800,000 people across the country, 85.2% rated their overall experience of their GP surgery as good.

This proportion is a 0.4% increase on the results from 2014-15.

Patients are increasingly happy with the care they receive from their GP a new survey shows.

The GP Patient Survey 2016 found that, of more than 800,000 people across the country, 85.2% rated their overall experience of their GP surgery as good.

This proportion is a 0.4% increase on the results from 2014-15.

The survey asked respondents about a range of healthcare service experiences provided by their GP surgery, including surgery access, appointment availability and the quality of care received from GPs and practice nurses.

Nearly three quarters of patients (73.4%) rated their overall experience of making an appointment as good.

However, 81.6% of patients have to wait more than five minutes after their appointment time to be seen by a GP, including 26.7% who have to wait over 15 minutes.

The survey also found that fewer patients reported seeing their preferred GP, at 58.4%, which is 1.2% lower than last year.

More broadly, the survey found 78% of patients would recommend their GP surgery to someone who has just moved to the local area – an increase of 0.5% on the 2014-15 results.

Also, more than 73% of patients rated their overall experience of making an appointment as good.

On the widely debated topic of surgery hours, 75.9% of patients are satisfied with the hours that their GP surgery is open, which is 1% higher than in 2014-15.

Furthermore, 74.6% of patients said that their GP surgery is open at times that are convenient for them.

Dr Arvind Madan, director of primary care for NHS England, said: “The GP Patient Survey shows patients appreciate the fantastic job GPs and the wider primary care work force are doing in challenging times.

“The findings also reinforce the case for investing in and strengthening primary care, exactly as we are now doing.

“Our General Practice Forward View, which committed to increasing investment in services culminating in an extra £2.4 billion a year by 2020/21 to support primary care, will stabilise and transform general practice, manage demand on services and expand the workforce.”

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