Listen
GP Access Survey results
19/05/2009
The vast majority of Scottish patients are able to see their GP quickly and conveniently, the largest ever patient survey has found.
Results from the nationwide GP Access Survey - completed by nearly 270,000 patients across Scotland - show that 90 per cent were able to consult a health professional within 48 hours.
In addition, 75 per cent of patients were able to make a booking three or more days in advance at their GP surgery.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the Access Survey represented a landmark in patient participation in their health service.
Ms Sturgeon 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 good news.
"It shows what an excellent job most of our GP surgeries are doing for their patients and is something I want to congratulate 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."
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.
NHS Health Board breakdown of the results:
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
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