News

Patients asked whether practices should open Sundays

06-Jan-09

Patients are being asked whether they would like practices to open on Sundays in the GP Patient Experience Survey.

The GPC fears patients may be put off replying to the 44-question GP survey because of its length.

The questionnaire for England and Northern Ireland was launched yesterday and is worth an average of £8,000 per practice.

23.5 points are available if more than 70% of patients are able to obtain a consultation with a GP within two working days.

35 points are available if more than 60% are able to book an appointment with a GP more than two days in advance.

Patients are asked to rank cleanliness, receptionists, waiting time, opening hours and ease of access to practices. There is also a section about out-of-hours care.

One question is 'Which of the following additional times would you most like the GP surgery or health centre to be open? Please pick one answer showing the time you would most like it to be open'.

Before 8am
At lunchtime
After 6.30pm
On a Saturday
On a Sunday

Patients are also asked to rate GPs and practice nurses from very good to very poor on giving patients enough time, asking about symptoms, listening to patients, explaining tests and treatments, involving patients in decisions about their care, treating them with care and concern and taking their problems seriously.

GPC chairman Dr Laurence Buckman has criticised the survey which replaces the practice-based, local patient surveys in the quality framework.

He said: ‘GPs want feedback from patients as it helps them improve the service they offer. However, we think the length and complexity of the new surveys for England and Northern Ireland may put some people off replying.’

Survey results will be published in July.

Information on GP Patient Survey

Patient surveys 'flawed and will mislead GPs'

neil.durham@haymarket.com

Comment below and tell us what you think

Comments

Neil Upton

06/01/2009

Ben Bradshaw should stop messing about. Ask what the Dept wants to achieve. " do you want the surgery to be open 24hrs per day every day?"

Then every one knows where they stand and true negotiaition can go on which will get our £6000 per partnet back.

david price

06/01/2009

As a finite source in terms of time how can we win when patients are supposed to get appointments very quickly, with who they like and expect to have a long consultation with full explanation? With weekends included, you may as well ignore doctors life outside practice/family life, increase are stress, and ruin our quality of life which does seem the opposite to what the government wants for patients-hang on aren't we patients!!!

Paul Carroll

06/01/2009

This is a standard Government way to raise patient expectation: by asking what they want rather than what they need. We all have wants: I want an Aston Martin like James Bond, but I actually need just four wheels and an engine which is more in line with what I can afford. My concern it that the response from patients will decide how much funding we get. As an example in our practice, you can book an appointment with a doctor or nurse of your choice up to THREE MONTHS in advance. This is advertised widely, in our waiting rooms, on our website and in the practice leaflet. In our patient satisfaction survey, several patients commented they would like to book appointments in advance? I just thought of another want: I want Christmas holiday breaks \(and summer) like MP's but what I get are emails from the DOH via the PCT advising us to help with the season increase in minor illness by working over the holiday period. Of course patient choice is important unless they choose to go direct to A& E, when it becomes inappropriate.

Jeremy Betteridge

06/01/2009

When will the Government get back down to the realities of life which are that there are no rights without responsibilities and that there are few absolute rights. Further, when will they learn that for every action there is a reaction/result. We are the victims of short termism in Government which causes a violent whiplash down through the system so that a whim in the DoH becomes a welt in the surgery.

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