Patients rate GP practices across B&NES among the best in the country

GP practices in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) are among the very best in the country according to their patients, the latest GP Patient Survey has revealed.

The results of the latest GP Patient Survey found that, of the 2,828 residents questioned, 91 per cent rated the overall experience at their GP surgery as ‘good’ – the fourth highest in the country and just two percentage points away from the top spot.

The results are also higher than the national average of 84 per cent.

It is the fourth consecutive GP Patient Survey in which Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (BaNES CCG) has scored in the top four CCGs in the country for overall GP experience.

There was also praise for the reception staff at GP practices, with 96 per cent of those questioned saying the staff were ‘helpful’ – again, higher than the national average of 90 per cent.

Dr Ian Orpen, Clinical Chair of Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (BaNES CCG), said: “These fantastic results are testament to the hard work of GPs throughout B&NES, who put their patients at the heart of everything they do.

“GPs are under more pressure than ever before, but remain fully committed to providing patients with the service they deserve.

“It is very positive to hear that patients feel they are receiving a good service, not just from GPs but also from our nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals that form part of the practice team.”

B&NES GPs scored highly in all areas of the GP Patient Survey, coming higher than the national average for matters including the overall experience of making an appointment, the convenience of appointment times, contacting practices by phone and ease of use of online services.

In common with other areas of the UK, increasing demand for local health and care services is putting an unprecedented strain on the CCG budget, alongside an additional £6.2 million of savings which need to be made in 2018/19.

The BaNES CCG are working with local GP practices and partners to transform primary and community services and have launched new, innovative projects to improve the patient experience, such as the Early Homes Visiting Service and the Falls Rapid Response Team, which aim to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

To find out how your GP practice got on in the GP Patient Survey and compare it to other practices, visit gp-patient.co.uk.