The latest General Practice Patient Survey (GPPS) results show continued improvements in patient experience across Humber and North Yorkshire, with positive feedback increasing across GP practices, community pharmacies, dental services and out-of-hours care.
Patients continue to report positive experiences of general practice, with 79% rating their overall GP experience positively, up from 77% last year and placing Humber and North Yorkshire 12th out of 36 integrated care boards (ICBs) nationally. The survey also found that 72% of patients felt supported to manage their long-term health conditions, above the national average of 70%.
The region also performed strongly for GP access, with 76% of patients reporting a positive experience accessing GP services, up from 72% the previous year and ranking Humber and North Yorkshire 9th out of 36 ICBs nationally.
Improvements were seen across all three main access routes, with positive experiences increasing for:
- Phone access – 59% (up from 56%)
- NHS App access – 62% (up from 57%)
- Practice website access – 59% (up from 54%)
Patients continue to report high levels of confidence in healthcare professionals. The survey found that:
- 94% had confidence and trust in the professional they saw or spoke to.
- 91% felt they were treated with care and concern.
- 87% felt their needs were met during their appointment.
Community pharmacies also received positive feedback, with 89% of patients reporting a good experience, up from 87% the previous year. Around 18% of patients used a pharmacy when their GP practice was closed, highlighting the important role pharmacies play in supporting local communities.
The survey showed encouraging results for other services too. Positive experience of out-of-hours services increased to 61%, up from 58%, while 70% of patients reported a positive experience of NHS dental services, up from 69%.
The results also recognise the high standard of care provided across the region. More than 20% of the top-performing GP practices nationally are located within the North East and Yorkshire region, and 63% of practices scored at or above the national average for overall GP experience.
Nigel Wells, Medical Director for NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB, commented:
“It’s really encouraging to see more people telling us they are having positive experiences of accessing NHS services across Humber and North Yorkshire. Behind these results are dedicated teams working every day to provide compassionate, high-quality care for local people. We know there is always more to do, and we remain committed to improving access to services and ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”
