The research, by ONS and commissioned by NHS England, shows 38.8% of adults had attempted to contact their GP practice in the past 28 days. Of these, 96.4% were successful, with 77.1% making contact the same day. Just under half (43.8%) of those who had successfully contacted their GP practice did so by telephone, although 11.3% described this as ‘difficult'. Those who contacted their GP practice via online methods or in person were most likely (78% and 78.1%) to describe the experience as ‘easy'.

Three-quarters (73.6%) of those who tried to contact their GP practice perceived their overall experience of the practice as either ‘very good' or ‘good'.

Of those given a face-to-face appointment, a video call appointment or a call-back appointment from a GP/healthcare professional in the past 28 days, 81.7% were either given a face-to-face appointment or asked if they wanted one.

Of those who had a face-to-face appointment, a video call appointment or a call-back appointment in the past 28 days, 34.8% have a preferred healthcare professional. Women were more likely than men to say this (37.4% compared with 31.3%), as were older adults. Adults with a long-term health condition were significantly more likely (51.8%) to have a preferred healthcare professional than people without a long-term health condition (27%).

In addition, the data reveals that 52.9% of adults reported having an NHS dentist. Over a third (35.9%) of adults had a private dentist and 10.8% did not have a dentist. Males were more likely not to have a dentist (12.9%) than females (8.8%). Adults in the South West and South East were most likely to have a private dentist.

Nine out of ten (88.7%) 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, 84.4% were unsuccessful.

The data shows 54.9% of adults reported using NHS services from a pharmacy in the last 28 days and 89.4% of those doing so reporting being ‘very satisfied' or ‘satisfied' with the most recent service they had received. However, 11.8% 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 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.