This in from the IW NHS, in their own words. Ed
The survey conducted on behalf of the Department of Health by specialists Ispos MORI covered the period July 2012 to March 2013. More than 2,100 Islanders responded to the survey, which assesses patients’ experiences of the access and quality of care they receive from their local GPs.
Practices ‘rising to the challenge’
Despite the fact that patients on the Island report ill health, pain and mobility problems more frequently that their mainland equivalents, GP practices on the Island are clearly rising to the challenge and supporting patients well.
Overall the Island is in the top 10 per cent when it comes to patient satisfaction with GP practices.
Highlights include:
- 93 per cent patients said they were satisfied with their GP practice compared to 89 per cent nationally
- 86 per cent patients say their surgery is open at a convenient time compared to 82 per cent nationally
- 86 per cent patients say they can get through to their surgery easily on the phone compared to 80 per cent nationally
- 77 per cent patients say they normally see their preferred GP compared to 69 per cent nationally
- 89 per cent would recommend their surgery to friends and family compared to 82 per cent nationally
- More than 96 per cent patients on the island report they trust their doctor compared to 94 per cent nationally
- 94 per cent patients found surgery receptionists helpful and friendly compared to an average of 91 per cent nationally
The Island is fortunate to have some outstanding practices including:
- Garfield Road Surgery in Ryde who achieved 100 per cent overall satisfaction from its patients with 96 per cent patients recommending the practice to their family and friends. The practice also beats all others on the Island for GPs showing care and concern towards their patients and for the trust that patients put into their doctor.
- Shanklin Medical Centre, whose receptionists scored 100 per cent satisfaction from patients for their helpfulness. They beat all other Island practices, with 97 per cent patients saying the surgery is open at convenient times for them.
- Grove House Surgery in Ventnor where 97 per cent patients have confidence in the treatment that the practice nurses offer and 93 per cent patients reported the nurses treat them with care and concern.
Rivers: “I am very proud of what we are doing on the Island”
Commenting on the results, Clinical Commissioning Group chair Dr John Rivers, who is also a senior partner at Shanklin Medical Centre said,
“As GPs, nurses and staff working in practices, we try hard to deliver an excellent service to our patients. People come to us when they are at their most vulnerable and it is important not only that we do a great job at diagnosing and treating patients, but that we do it with obvious compassion and concern. Patients know if they are getting a good primary care service and I am very proud of what we are doing on the Island.”
He continued,
“Every practice works hard to recruit and retain good GPs, nurses and other staff. As working practices change with ever more part time GPs, more integrated care and more flexibility in the workforce, we will need to work closely with patients to ensure that their expectations of primary care are met.”
While the results overall are very good, practices whose patients rated them less well will be looking at what they can do better. John commented,
“As a fundamental part of the health service on the Island we must always strive to improve – even when we are already doing a good job!”
