NHS patients have expressed widespread dissatisfaction with struggling GP practices, indicating a significant discontent with the service quality. According to the latest GP Survey of 650,000 patients in England, one in 10 patients rated their experience as “poor” or “very poor,” although this marks a slight improvement from the previous year’s rating of 13%.
The survey revealed that only one in seven patients rated their GP practices as “good.” An analysis conducted by the Mirror on the survey data allows patients to compare the performance of their local GP practices.
Each year, the NHS conducts surveys to gather feedback from patients regarding their experiences at GP surgeries. Patients provide insights on various aspects such as overall satisfaction, ease of contacting the surgery, and trust in their GPs. The data for this year’s survey was collected between January and March.
Despite ongoing issues, there has been a noticeable increase in satisfaction with GP services under the Labour government, with 76.7% of patients rating their overall experience as “good” in 2026, up from 73.9% in the previous year.
The survey also highlighted a significant rise in patients using online services to contact their practices, with 30.8% utilizing online channels compared to 16.9% in 2024. This increase followed Labour’s initiative to implement online booking options in all GP practices to streamline access and eliminate the rush for appointments.
Health Secretary James Murray acknowledged the efforts of NHS staff in enhancing patient care and emphasized the government’s commitment to reducing waiting times and enhancing care quality for all individuals.
A large majority of patients (93%) expressed confidence in their GPs or other healthcare professionals at their surgeries. Additionally, 86% stated that they were treated with care and concern, while 87% felt listened to by the healthcare providers.
Regarding appointment wait times, around 69% of patients deemed the waiting period acceptable, while nearly a third (31%) found it too long. Will Pett, head of policy and research at Healthwatch England, highlighted the challenges faced by GP teams and emphasized the need for additional support and resources to improve access to healthcare services.
Pett also pointed out that patient feedback reflected concerns about booking appointments, lack of choices in appointment scheduling, and perceived delays in accessing care. He stressed the importance of hiring more administrative staff and care navigators to facilitate appointment bookings, manage referrals, and ensure round-the-clock availability of online services.
