WALTHAM FOREST: GP surgeries fail to impress patients (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: GP surgeries fail to impress patients

12:16pm Friday 1st August 2008 in

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PATIENTS have given the thumbs down to their GP services in a Healthcare Commission survey.

The annual survey, of 339 patients in Waltham Forest, was part of a annual national survey by Government inspectors.

Of 35 questions asked, responses to 22 showed patient satisfaction with their service was worse than average and responses to 13 were in the average range.

None of the questions got a response that was above average.

Surgeries in the borough got the worst rating for cleanliness in the country, with a score of 81.60 out of 100.

Perhaps that was because Waltham Forest patients had longer to notice, as patients were left in the dark about how long they would have to wait (11.56 out of 100).

Receptionists were not popular with patients either.

When asked if they were treated with courtesy when they arrived patients gave them the fourth lowest score in the country (69.47 out of 100).

Administration also scored badly.

Fewer people than average were given a choice of hospital when GPs referred patients to a specialist (38.32 out of 100).

People also did not think they got enough copies of letters about their treatment between GPs and specialists (32.78 out of 100) A low score was also recorded for getting advice or help about diet (36.68 out of 100) and getting enough exercise (39.73).

But the GPs themselves fared better.

Most patients said they were treated with respect and dignity by their doctors, giving a score of 92.58 out of 100.

They also said doctors listened carefully to what they had to say (87.72 out of 100) And although the borough’s surgeries take a battering in the survey, the results may not reflect the majority of people’s opinion.

The response rate in Waltham Forest was also lower than average - only 30 per cent in comparison to 40 per cent nationwide.