Patients to have a say on improving GP services

Rochdale residents are being asked for their views on how to improve family doctor services in the latest GP Patient Survey launched by the Government.

Results from the 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 response to patients’ calls for quick access to GP appointments at convenient times in last year’s survey, over half of GP practices across Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton now offer extended opening hours, making it easier for patients to get appointments at times that suit them.

Vivienne Ben-David, head of primary care at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, said: “It’s really important that the public tell us what they want from their local doctor such as when they have appointments, how they book them, the service they receive and quality of care.

“Last year’s survey told us that patients wanted practices to be open for longer to make booking an appointment easier and more convenient. Now the majority of practices in our area offer some form on extended opening hours, giving patients what they want.”

This year’s survey 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.

For more information about the GP Patient Survey and to complete the questionnaire, visit www.gp-patient.co.uk