The ONS data, commissioned by NHS England, shows that 43.9% of those who had successfully contacted their GP practice did so by telephone, although 12.9% described this as ‘difficult'. Those who contacted their GP practice via online methods or in person were most likely - 75.1% and 75.2%, respectively - to describe the experience as ‘easy'.
The data finds that 72.5% of those who tried to contact their GP practice perceived their overall experience of the practice as either ‘very good' or ‘good'. Older adults were most likely to describe their experience as ‘very good' or ‘good', with the figures standing at 77.4% for those aged 75 plus, compared with 67.3% for 16- to 24-year-olds.
In addition, the data reveals that of those given an appointment or a call back from a GP/healthcare professional in the past 28 days, 81.8% were either given a face-to-face appointment or asked if they wanted one. Those in the South West were less likely to be given either a face-to-face appointment or asked if they wanted one.
Of those who had a face-to-face appointment in the past 28 days, 35.8% have a preferred healthcare professional. Women were more likely than men to say this (37.9% compared with 32.4%) as were older adults. Adults with a long-term health condition were significantly more likely (60.7%) to have a preferred healthcare professional than people without a long-term health condition (28.2%).
Of those with a preferred healthcare professional and who had a face-to-face appointment in the past 28 days, 61.4% were able to see their preferred healthcare professional, the ONS data shows.
In addition, the figures reveal 53.1% of adults reported having an NHS dentist - 35.8% of adults had a private dentist and 10.9% did not have a dentist. Males were more likely not to have a dentist (13.3%) than females (8.5%). Adults in the South West and South East were most likely to have a private dentist.
The data shows that 90.4% of adults with an NHS dentist who attended an NHS dental appointment in the past 28 days, were ‘very satisfied' or ‘satisfied' with the care they received. Of those who did not have a dentist but tried to make an NHS dental appointment in the previous 28 days, 81.3% were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, 54.5% of adults reported using NHS services from a pharmacy in the past 28 days and 88.9% of those doing so reporting being ‘very satisfied' or ‘satisfied' with the most recent service they had received. However, 12.8% of those who had been dispensed an NHS prescription had a problem getting their prescription. Females, older adults, and those with a long-term health condition were significantly more likely to report using NHS services from a pharmacy ‘several times a month'.
Throughout the ONS survey, levels of satisfaction tended to be higher among the older age groups, those living in the least deprived areas and those without a long-term health condition.
