News
Little demand for extended GP opening hours
17 July 2008
Only 5.6% of patients want later evening GP opening times and only
7.9% want their GP practice open on Saturdays, according to a report on
the GP Patient Survey by The NHS Information Centre.
The GP Patient Survey 2007/08 asked almost five million patients for
their views on access to their local practice and almost two million
patients responded.
 A
key purpose of the survey was to measure how practices are performing
against access standards set out in the Improved Access Scheme. Under
the scheme, the results of the survey determine how much participating
GP practices get paid.
The survey asked 10 questions about access to the GP surgery and two
about referral to a specialist (along with personal background
information). The full name for the survey was: "The GP Patient Survey.
Your Doctor, Your Experience, Your Say". Despite the grand title, it
didn't ask any question about the quality of service, services available
or patient experience while in the practice. The questionnaire also
didn't ask about out-of-hours services, which already give the public
access to GPs in evenings and at weekends.
The results showed that:
- 87% of patients were satisfied with telephone access to their
local practice;
- 87% of patients who tried to get an appointment quickly could
see a GP within 48 hours;
- 77% of patients who wanted to book ahead for an appointment with
a GP were able to do so; and
- 88% of patients who wanted an appointment with a specific GP
were able to get one with that particular GP
The survey also found that 82% of patients were happy with the
current opening times of their GP practice. Of those who were
dissatisfied it showed that:
- 44% wanted practices to be open on Saturdays which equals 7.9%
of all patients; and
- 31% wanted later evening opening times which equals 5.6% of
all patients.
These figures must put into question the government drive to extend
GP opening times.
In a separate questionnaire completed by 283,400 patients, the survey
also looked at whether GPs discussed choice of hospital with patients
who were referred to hospital. This aspect of the survey, which helps
determine payments to practices that participate in the Choose and Book
Scheme, showed 93% of surveyed patients referred for specialist care
reported that their GP had discussed choice of hospital with them.
The GP Patient Survey was carried out by research company Ipsos MORI
on behalf of the Department of Health.
The NHS Information Centre's chief executive Tim Straughan said: The
survey is an important mechanism for rewarding practices providing good
levels of access and choice to their patients, and it provides an
incentive to practices to reflect the views of patients in key aspects
of the services they deliver. It is a useful indicator for patients, GP
practices, primary care trusts and policymakers alike.
The survey results and interactive online database are at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/gpps08
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