Primary care welcomes increase in patient satisfaction

Responding to the publication of the latest GP Patient Satisfaction Survey, Dr Graham Jackson, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at the NHS Confederation, said:

“This has been the most difficult year many people across the NHS have faced and, in the context of how hard primary care staff have been working, this increase in overall patient satisfaction as well as several other key metrics is very positive.

“We have also seen both appointments and referrals going up, all while primary care plays a vital role in the vaccination programme.

“It is concerning to see 42 per cent of respondents avoided making an appointment. We know that colleagues in primary care are working hard to address the backlog so that those who stayed away can be prioritised based on need.

“On behalf of our members, we have recently been working with national patient bodies to discuss the challenges they face in providing care to everyone who comes forward and potential solutions. We know more must be done to streamline access and help patients navigate the system to access the most appropriate care.”