Deprived areas less satisfied with GP services

26 Jul 07
Health Secretary Alan Johnson pledged to improve the convenience and accessibility of GP care this week, after it emerged that patients in deprived areas and those from ethnic minorities were the most dissatisfied with the service.

27 July 2007

Health Secretary Alan Johnson pledged to improve the convenience and accessibility of GP care this week, after it emerged that patients in deprived areas and those from ethnic minorities were the most dissatisfied with the service.

A Department of Health survey found patients were generally pleased with access to their GP – 86% were able to get an appointment within 48 hours, while

three-quarters of those who wished to book ahead were able to do so. More than 80% were satisfied with current opening hours.

However, people from ethnic minority communities reported a poorer experience. Johnson has asked Mayur Lakhani, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, to look at why these groups were more dissatisfied.

'I am particularly concerned about areas of deprivation where there is greater need for GP services, but fewer available compared to more prosperous parts of the country,' he said.

The health secretary will push for practices to open in the evenings and at weekends. 'I want more convenient opening hours and more GPs in deprived and less well served areas,' he said. Johnson added that Lord Darzi's 'Next stage' review would improve access in the long term.

In the meantime, he announced measures to tackle variations in the short term. A new improvement team will focus on areas with the lowest patient satisfaction and fewest doctors per head, while primary care trusts may invite private sector providers to offer GP services in under-doctored areas.

For the first time, the DoH survey will be used to distribute cash to GP practices – this could mean a payment of up to £11,700 for an average surgery.

However, the British Medical Association questioned the wisdom of longer opening hours when only 4% of respondents wanted surgeries open in the evening and 7% at weekends.

But the CBI said the survey proved it was right to lobby for longer opening hours. Neil Bentley, director of public services, said: 'This survey shows 10 million adults in England cannot book an appointment two days ahead – there has to be a better use of resources to ensure GP services operate for the convenience of patients as well as doctors.'

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