08.06.12
Scores for GPs to be published online
GP surgeries are to be scored out of 10 on the NHS Choices website to help patients make informed decisions about where to receive the best care.
Publishing the data will also improve standards, the Department of Health said.
However, some doctors are concerned that the scores will not take into account the individual challenges different practices face.
Data will be published online for over 8,000 practices in England and will reflect how well doctors and nurses listen and explain conditions, as well as how easy it is to get an appointment.
Patients will be able to compare GPs in their area, based on a nationwide survey.
Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: “Our helpline is seeing a trend of increasing complaints about GPs, covering a number of areas, including difficulties obtaining an appointment, complaints about behaviour of reception staff and other factors that affect their overall experience.
“These changes will not resolve these issues overnight, but providing clear and easily comparable data is certainly a step forward.”
However, a BMA spokesperson said: “Reducing surgeries to a score out of 10 fails to allow patients to give detailed responses. The rating would also fail to take into account the differing challenges that each GP practice may face, especially in terms of resources which are increasingly being squeezed by government cuts.”
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