Three-quarters (74%) of patients have a good overall experience of their GP practice, according to the latest GP Patient Survey.
The annual survey, run by Ipsos on behalf of NHS England, also saw 89.9% of patients saying that ‘their needs were met at their last appointment’. And 92.3% said they ‘had confidence and trust in the healthcare professional’ they saw at their last appointment.
This year, the survey asked patients about their overall experience of the GP practice; quality of care received; experience when the GP practice is closed; pharmacy services and NHS dentistry; as well as current health circumstances.
- Survey seeks women’s views on reproductive health
- Quality of care has significantly declined
- RCN survey reveals the significant inequalities in NHS mental health care
While this year’s survey indicates increased levels of patient satisfaction, leading think tanks have said there is still ‘a lot of work’ to be done.
The Royal College of GPs chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said that the results make it ‘clear’ that when patients are able to see their GP ‘they are getting the care they need’.
‘But it is also clear that too many patients are waiting too long for an appointment and struggling to access the care and services their practice provides – and many are unclear where to turn if they fall unwell outside of routine hours. GPs are as worried and frustrated as their patients when this happens,’ she added.
Beccy Baird, senior fellow at The King’s Fund said the results were ‘reassuring,’ but not evenly spread, with people living in more deprived areas more likely to report negative experiences.
She said: ‘More than 40 per cent of people avoided making appointments, in many cases to protect the NHS or because they were worried about catching Covid-19. As this pent-up demand starts to come back into the system many GPs, and other parts of the health and care system, are facing a capacity crunch. The government and NHS leaders need to consider how general practice will be supported to work with other NHS and care services to make sure that people continue to be able to access the care they need.’
The new health secretary Wes Streeting has committed to supporting general practice by increasing the share of NHS funding for primary care and boosting the GP workforce. An NHS England spokesperson said they look forward to working with the government ‘to tackle the issues that matter most to patients, which includes better supporting patients with long term conditions, improving continuity of care, particularly for those that need it most, and making it easier for people to contact their GP or get an NHS dental appointment’.