Ninety seven per cent of patients have confidence and trust in their doctor

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today welcomed survey results that show the vast majority of people are satisfied with GP services in Northern Ireland.

The second GP Patient Survey was issued to some 236,646 people across Northern Ireland to assess patients’ views on the services they receive. It has been developed across the four UK countries as part of the Government’s commitment to making the Health Service responsive to patients’ need.

Key findings: 94% of patients are satisfied with the care they receive at their surgery; 97% of patients have confidence and trust in their doctor; 84% of patients who needed to see a GP or healthcare professional fairly quickly were seen on the same day or within the next two days; 86% of patients are satisfied with the opening hours of their surgery; 99% of patients report their surgery to be clean.

Mr McGimpsey said: "In this second year of the GP Patient Survey, patients have continued to respond positively to the opportunity to express their views on GP services. I really appreciate the time they took to complete the survey and to contribute valuable information on the services they use.

"These are very good responses for Northern Ireland’s GP practices. I am confident that they will take heart, as I do, from the public’s confirmation of how good their patient services are.

"At the same time they will want to respond positively to patient views on aspects of their provision that could be improved, such as access to services for patients in some practices. My department has invested over £20million on improving access to GP services since 2004 and these results are evidence of the substantial efforts all practices have made deliver high quality services for their patients."

Full survey results are available on the DHSSPS website

Notes to editors:

1. The survey forms part of the GMS contract and the Department has carried it out in conjunction with the other UK Departments of Health. This is the second year the survey has been undertaken in Northern Ireland. The survey was carried out on the Department’s behalf by Ipsos MORI.

2. Across Northern Ireland 236,646 surveys were distributed to patients and 102,214 surveys were completed and returned giving an average 43% response rate for Northern Ireland.

3. The full survey results are available online.

4. The survey addressed the following themes:

• the GP surgery or health centre
• getting through on the telephone
• seeing a GP or healthcare professional
• waiting time at the surgery
• seeing a doctor of choice
• opening hours
• seeing the doctor in the surgery
• seeing a nurse in the surgery
• overall satisfaction
• planning your care
• GP out of hours care
• information on patient demographics

5. Practices can use the results to the survey as a tool for implementing changes to improve services for their patients.

6. Media enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 2841. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number on 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.