20/05/2009

GRAHAME WELCOMES GP ACCESS SURVEY RESULTS

The vast majority of Borders patients are able to see their GP quickly and conveniently, the largest ever patient survey has revealed.

Results from the nationwide GP Access Survey – completed by nearly 270,000 patients across Scotland – show that 92 per cent of Borderers were able to consult a health professional within 48 hours.
In addition, 86 per cent of Borders patients were able to make a booking three or more days in advance at their GP surgery.

SNP MSP Christine Grahame who also Chairs the Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee said the Access Survey represented a landmark in patient participation in their health service. Ms Grahame said:
"The high response rate to this landmark survey shows just how passionate many people are about their NHS.

"The fact that the great majority of patients say they are able to consult a health professional at their GP surgery within two days or book an appointment in advance is very good news.

"It demonstrates what an excellent job most of our GP surgeries are doing for their patients and is something I want to congratulate local GPs on.

"Of course, we want good access to be standard, so it will be for those NHS boards where some patients are reporting difficulties to work with their GPs to resolve any issues."

Dr Ken Lawton, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Scotland, said:
"I am delighted that the hard work of Scottish GPs and their teams to provide access to high quality primary care has been recognised in these results."

Dr Jean Turner, Executive Director of the Scotland Patients' Association (SPA), said:
"I think that the response to the survey shows how keen the Scottish people are to help improve access to their General Practice which they value.

"While the overall percentages for both an appointment within 48 hours and an advance booking are high for Scotland, there still is a significant minority, in all areas, who desire and need more access.
"Obviously, practices need to find out how to improve these figures and SPA suggests it is essential that individual practices do so by having a dialogue with their patients.

"It is essential to have access to GPs as they are the gateway to most other NHS services."

END
NOTES FOR EDITORS

- The survey was sent to 543,246 GP patients in Scotland in October 2008. A total of 269,186 (50 per cent) of survey forms were returned. The full results are published here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Health/Publications
- Board breakdown of the results:
(a) Able to get an appointment with a health professional within 48 hours (percentage positive responses)
Ayrshire and Arran      90
Borders         92     
Dumfries and Galloway   93
Fife                    86
Forth Valley            85
Grampian                88
Greater Glasgow and Clyde       90
Highland                93
Lanarkshire             86
Lothian         90
Orkney          99
Shetland                93
Tayside         95
Western Isles   94
Scotland                90

(b) Able to book an advance appointment (percentage positive responses)
Ayrshire and Arran      74
Borders         86
Dumfries and Galloway   78
Fife                    75
Forth Valley            73
Grampian                76
Greater Glasgow and Clyde       78
Highland                83
Lanarkshire             69
Lothian         74
Orkney          96
Shetland                87
Tayside         68
Western Isles   87
Scotland                75

SNP It’s time.....