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05/01/2009
Patients To Have Say On Improving GP Services
More than five million patients in England are being asked for their views on how to improve family doctor services in a new survey launched by the Government today.
Results from the national survey will be used to drive changes to GP services and rewards for GPs who provide fast, convenient services.
This is the third year the Department of Health has run the GP patient survey, which focuses on patients’ experiences of visiting a GP.
In last year's survey, patients called for quicker access to GP appointments - in response to this, over half of all GP practices now offer extended opening hours, making it easier for patients to get appointments at times that suit them.
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "The national GP patient survey last year gave five million people a chance to have their say on improving access to their GP. The NHS listened and responded, and now over half of GP practices are making it easier for their patients to book appointments later in the evening, earlier in the morning or at the weekend.
"This new survey, with wider questions, will ensure patients can have their say about the issues that matter most to them. Where patients identify areas for improvement, the local NHS will need to respond."
The survey now includes more questions to find out if GP practices are getting the basics right for their patients - whether patients find receptionists helpful, have the option of telephone consultations, feel their problem is understood and how they rate the overall care they receive. Patients are also asked to rate local out of hours care to ensure health care is easily accessible when patients need it.
Patients' answers will continue to set the level of payments made to their GP practice for delivering access to GP appointments in two working days and for booking appointments in advance. The expanded survey also means the local NHS can link GP pay more closely to their patients' views if this will improve care for patients.
(JM/KMcA)
Results from the national survey will be used to drive changes to GP services and rewards for GPs who provide fast, convenient services.
This is the third year the Department of Health has run the GP patient survey, which focuses on patients’ experiences of visiting a GP.
In last year's survey, patients called for quicker access to GP appointments - in response to this, over half of all GP practices now offer extended opening hours, making it easier for patients to get appointments at times that suit them.
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "The national GP patient survey last year gave five million people a chance to have their say on improving access to their GP. The NHS listened and responded, and now over half of GP practices are making it easier for their patients to book appointments later in the evening, earlier in the morning or at the weekend.
"This new survey, with wider questions, will ensure patients can have their say about the issues that matter most to them. Where patients identify areas for improvement, the local NHS will need to respond."
The survey now includes more questions to find out if GP practices are getting the basics right for their patients - whether patients find receptionists helpful, have the option of telephone consultations, feel their problem is understood and how they rate the overall care they receive. Patients are also asked to rate local out of hours care to ensure health care is easily accessible when patients need it.
Patients' answers will continue to set the level of payments made to their GP practice for delivering access to GP appointments in two working days and for booking appointments in advance. The expanded survey also means the local NHS can link GP pay more closely to their patients' views if this will improve care for patients.
(JM/KMcA)
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Scottish patients may soon have a legal guarantee that they will wait no longer than 12 weeks for surgery. The Scottish Government's Patient Rights Bill proposes a strict limit on how long they have to wait from their surgical referral to receiving their operation.
27 November 2006
Patients to get say on GP services
Five million patients are to get the chance to have their say on GP services, as the biggest ever survey on NHS services was launched by the government. The GP Patient Survey will ask patients about their experiences of flexible booking, telephone access and opening hours.
Patients to get say on GP services
Five million patients are to get the chance to have their say on GP services, as the biggest ever survey on NHS services was launched by the government. The GP Patient Survey will ask patients about their experiences of flexible booking, telephone access and opening hours.
24 August 2005
Patients miss 10 million GP appointments
The UK’s patients are missing around 10 million GP appointments and 5 million practice nurse appointments per year, a new report has suggested. The survey, carried out by the Developing Patient Partnerships and the Institute of Healthcare Management, estimates that the cost of the missed appointments to the NHS is around £180 million.
Patients miss 10 million GP appointments
The UK’s patients are missing around 10 million GP appointments and 5 million practice nurse appointments per year, a new report has suggested. The survey, carried out by the Developing Patient Partnerships and the Institute of Healthcare Management, estimates that the cost of the missed appointments to the NHS is around £180 million.
24 August 2004
Missed appointments cost NHS £162m a year: survey
Missed appointments are costing the NHS throughout the UK over £162 million a year as more than 911,000 GP consultation slots and over 264,000 practice nurse appointments are wasted every year because patients fail to turn up, a survey has revealed.
Missed appointments cost NHS £162m a year: survey
Missed appointments are costing the NHS throughout the UK over £162 million a year as more than 911,000 GP consultation slots and over 264,000 practice nurse appointments are wasted every year because patients fail to turn up, a survey has revealed.
22 June 2006
Tighter tests on GPs' two-day target
GP practices will face tougher tests on GP appointment times as part of a drive to ensure all NHS patients can see a family doctor within two days. Under the plans, announced by Health Minister Lord Warner, Primary Care Trusts (PCT) will telephone surgeries on a random day every month to ensure that the two-day access target is being met.
Tighter tests on GPs' two-day target
GP practices will face tougher tests on GP appointment times as part of a drive to ensure all NHS patients can see a family doctor within two days. Under the plans, announced by Health Minister Lord Warner, Primary Care Trusts (PCT) will telephone surgeries on a random day every month to ensure that the two-day access target is being met.
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