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Patient voice improving GP access

  • Last modified date:
    16 July 2008

The Government today welcomed the results of the second annual GP Patient Access Survey, which reveals improvements in patient satisfaction and experience.

The results, published by The NHS Information Centre, reflect the important role patient feedback plays in improving NHS services.

The Access survey, the biggest patient survey of its kind in the UK, involved almost two million patients between January and March this year. It was conducted for the first time last year, and the improvements in today's results show a measure of success for GP practices that have responded to their patients' needs.

Key findings include:

  • 87 percent of people reported satisfaction with their ability to get through to their practice on the phone (86 percent in 2007)
  • 87 percent of people who tried to get an appointment with a GP in 48 hours reported they were able to do so (86 percent in 2007)
  • 77 percent of people who wanted to book ahead for an appointed reported they could do so (75 percent in 2007)
  • 88 percent of people who wanted an appointment with a particular GP (even if meant waiting longer) reported they could do so (88 percent in 2007)
  • 82 percent of people said they were satisfied with their GP practices current opening hours (84 percent in 2007).

Of the 18 percent dissatisfied:

  • 44 percent said this was because their practice was not open on a Saturday
  • 31 percent said this was because their practice was not open late enough in the evening.

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