The latest GP Patient Survey results have been released, providing a snapshot of public opinion of GP services across the country.
An independent survey run by Ipsos on behalf of NHS England, the GP Patient Survey is sent out to over two million people registered with GP practices in England, with the results showing how people feel about issues such as how easy it is to make an appointment and the quality of care received. The survey also includes questions about when your GP practice is closed, your health, pharmacy and NHS dentistry services.
What’s the picture in Norfolk?
The results show that the Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care System (ICS) performs better than the national average across many key measures of patient experience. A total of 54,659 questionnaires were distributed across the region, with more than 17,900 people across the two counties responding. This equates to a response rate of 33%, which is significantly higher than the national response rate of 22.1%.
Patients generally reported positive experiences of GP services, with four in five patients (80%) saying they had had a good overall experience, compared with 77% nationally. Just 9% described their experience as poor.
Respondents also reported good experiences when contacting their practice. Three quarters (76%) said their overall experience of contacting their doctor was good, compared with 73% nationally.When it comes to accessibility, local services also fared well: 61% cent said it was easy to contact their GP practice by phone, compared with 57% nationally, while 62% found it easy to use their practice website, compared with 58% nationally.
Trust in healthcare professionals
One of the strongest findings from this year’s survey is the confidence patients have in the healthcare professionals caring for them.
In Norfolk and Suffolk, 94% said they had confidence and trust in the healthcare professional they saw or spoke to, compared with 93% nationally. Similarly, 93% felt involved as much as they wanted to be in decisions about their care and treatment, while 92% said their needs were met during their last appointment.
These findings suggest that while access to services remains a challenge for some patients, experiences during appointments are generally very positive.
Feedback on waiting times
The survey found that 74% of patients felt the wait for their appointment was “about right”, compared with 69% nationally.
Support for people living with long-term conditions also scored better than the national average. Almost three quarters (74%) of respondents said they had enough support from local services and organisations to help manage their conditions or illnesses, compared with 70% nationally.
However, only 43% reported having a conversation with a healthcare professional about what is important to them when managing their condition.
What about other NHS services?
Community pharmacies in Norfolk and Suffolk were among the highest-rated NHS services in the survey, but concerns remain over access to NHS dentistry.
Nearly nine in ten patients (89%) described their experience of pharmacy services as good, matching the national figure. Three quarters of patients had used a pharmacy to collect prescriptions during the last year, while many also accessed advice, vaccinations and support for long-term conditions.
Meanwhile, only 67% of local patients who had tried to access NHS dental care in the previous two years described their experience as good. This is significantly lower than the national average of 73%. Meanwhile, 22% rated their experience as poor, compared with 15% nationally.
Find out more about the GP Patient Survey results on the NHS England website here.
You can search the results for your local GP practice here.