NHS Survey To Give Patients Their Say On GPs

Five million patients are to get the chance to have their say on how easy it is for people to see their GP as part of the biggest ever survey on NHS services. The GP Patient Survey, launched today by Health Minister Lord Warner, will reward those GP practices offering patients good access to services.

Posters and leaflets informing NHS patients and staff about the new survey will be placed in GP surgeries over the next couple of weeks, with a postal survey being sent to around 5 million patients in January.

The survey questionnaire will ask about patients’ experiences of flexible booking, telephone access and opening hours. Questions will cover for example:

- Booking an appointment with a GP within 2 days
- Whether people are satisfied with how easy it is to get through to the surgery by phone
- Whether it is possible to book ahead for an appointment
- Whether it is possible to book an appointment with a particular doctor
- Satisfaction with GP opening hours

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said:

"The public has told us that access to GPs is one of their highest priorities, so it's vital we ensure practices can be accessed when the public needs.

"The GP Patient Survey will provide us with a patient's-eye-view of how well GP surgeries measure-up on flexible booking and telephone access. Patients will also tell us whether they are satisfied with GP practice opening hours.

"We have invested generously in the new contract for GPs. We need now to make sure practices are responding to patient views on access."

An average practice with a list of 6,000 patients will have the chance to earn over £8,000 in incentives if they are responsive to patients' views on access.

Taking part in the survey is completely voluntary for patients. Patients will be randomly selected to take part in the survey.

The questionnaire recipient will complete this with advice/help-lines being provided for those individuals needing additional support (eg translation, support for the visually impaired and other special needs groups).