Public satisfaction with GPs falls to lowest level since 1983: survey

Public satisfaction with GP services has dropped to the lowest level since the 1980s, a survey has found.

The latest British Social Attitudes survey found that satisfaction with family doctor services, usually seen as the “jewel in the crown” of the NHS, has fallen to its lowest level in 35 years.

The survey, which has been tracking public opinion of the NHS since 1983, also found that public dissatisfaction with the overall NHS is on the rise.

Analysis from the National Centre for Social Research found that as the health service celebrates its 70th birthday, 57% of people said they were satisfied with the NHS – the lowest level since 2011.

Meanwhile, dissatisfaction in the NHS has risen to 29% – the highest in a decade, according to the research published by health think tanks The Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund.

Reasons include long waiting times for GP or hospital appointments, the Government not spending enough money on the NHS and not enough NHS staff, experts said.

The survey, which polled 3,000 people across England, Wales and Scotland, found that 65% of people said they were satisfied with GP services, the lowest level since the survey began.

Ruth Robertson, fellow at The King’s Fund, said: “One of the findings I thought was most striking in this year’s survey is the slump in GP satisfaction.

“Actually the public used to put GPs on a pedestal.

“They rated general practice much higher than other services.

“But since 2009, when the public satisfaction with general practice was 80%, it has been steadily declining.”