Herefordshire family doctors among the best

1:00pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008

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FAMILY doctors in Herefordshire are among the best in the country according to a national NHS survey.

Patients have put GPs in 24 practices across the county into the top 20% nationwide.

The doctors gained the highest percentage marks for the way they look after their patients and scored highly in nearly every section of an independent watchdog survey.

It was carried out by the Healthcare Commission and the results reveal Herefordshire Primary Care Trust and the county’s GPs are top performers in two thirds of the services measured.

More than five million people over 150 primary care trusts were invited to take part in the national study.

Herefordshire’s GPs scored the best possible marks in the whole country for the way they listen to patients, give enough time for patients to discuss their health and explain reasons for treatment in a way patients understand.

They were among top scorers for their confidence and trust with 91%, treating patients with respect and dignity, 98%, getting an appointment quickly, 93%, involving patients in decisions about care, 87%, clear answers to questions, 91%, enough information about medicine, 91%, information on how to use medicine, 92%, cleanliness of GP centres, 94% and convenient opening times, 86%.

Chris Bull, chief executive of the PCT and Herefordshire Council said the national survey was important because it asked patients what they actually think about the services the trust commissioned and provided.

“As part of our leadership role in healthcare in Herefordshire the study enables us to compare our results with over 150 PCTs and this helps us to determine the areas where we perform well or where there is room for improvement,” he said.