12:11pm Monday 22nd March 2010
By Gazette newsdesk
CUMBRIA is one of the best places in the country to get a short-notice appointment with a GP, according to a survey.
The latest results from the national GP Patient Survey showed 86 per cent of patients in the county who tried to make a quick appointment were able to do so. Nationally, the average was 80 per cent.
More than 18,000 patients in Cumbria were surveyed between April and December 2009. They were asked a range of questions including whether patients were satisfied with GP services.
The results found 94 per cent of patients were happy with the care they receive from their GP - higher again than the national average which was 90 per cent.
Other key findings from the survey included: * 75 per cent of Cumbrian patients reported that they were either very satisfied or fairly satisfied with their ability to get through to their doctor’s surgery on the phone, compared to the 68 per cent national average.
* 80 per cent of patients in Cumbria who wanted to book an appointment with a particular doctor at their GP surgery said they were able to do so all of the time or a lot of the time, compared to the 75 per cent national average.
* 86 per cent of Cumbrian patients responded that they were either very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the hours their GP surgery was open, compared to the 81 per cent national average.
Dr Peter Weaving, a leading GP at NHS Cumbria, said: “Over the last twelve months GPs have been working alongside community nurses and other health professionals to make sure more patients get the treatment and care they need in their own home or as close to home as possible.
“The results from this survey show that patients have confidence in their GPs as they continue to shape health services in Cumbria.”
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