Patients can rate GP practices online

Patients can now rate and compare GP practices on a new online comparison service.

The Government recently announced that it is opening up more choice for patients as they will soon be able to register with a GP practice of their choice.

This new tool will help patients make that choice and is now available at www.nhs.uk to give people all the information they need to decide which of England’s 8,300 practices is right for them.

Similar to the hospital comparison service launched over the summer, the tool will make it easier to find key information in one place, such as opening times and additional facilities offered by the GP practice.

Patients will also be able to read other people’s comments about:

• How easy it is to get an appointment
• How highly they would recommend the GP practice
• How well patients are treated by staff
• If patients felt they were involved in decisions about their care.

Lesley Mort, Director of Integrated Commissioning at NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, said: “This new tool allows every GP practice in the country to see their patients’ views on what is being done well and what needs to be improved. This information for patients should help to improve quality in primary care and demonstrate that patient views are valued and taken into account.”

Last month, the Government announced its intention to abolish GP boundaries within the next year, meaning patients will be able to register with a GP practice of their choice. Under current arrangements, GP practices have catchment areas and tend only to accept patients who live within those areas.