NHS patients have expressed strong dissatisfaction with struggling GP practices, with the majority expressing unhappiness with the service quality. According to the GP Survey of 650,000 patients in England, one in 10 patients rated their experience as “poor” or “very poor,” marking a slight improvement from last year’s 13% poor rating.
Despite the slight improvement, only one in seven patients rated GP practices as “good.” The Mirror analyzed survey data to allow patients to compare their local GP practice performance. The annual NHS patient survey collects feedback on various aspects of care, including overall experience, ease of contact, and trust in GPs, gathered between January and March.
While satisfaction levels are not optimal, there have been noticeable improvements in GP service satisfaction under Labour’s administration. In 2026, 76.7% of patients rated their overall GP practice experience as “good,” up from 73.9% in the previous year. The GP Survey also revealed a significant increase in online contact with practices, rising to 30.8% from 16.9% in 2024, following Labour’s initiative to facilitate online booking and reduce phone line congestion.
Health Secretary James Murray acknowledged the efforts of NHS staff in enhancing patient care access, aiming to reduce waiting times and enhance care quality. The survey indicated that 93% of patients had confidence in their GPs or health professionals, with high percentages noting care, concern, and attentive listening from health professionals.
Approximately two-thirds of patients felt their waiting times for appointments were reasonable, while a third deemed them too long. Healthwatch England’s Will Pett highlighted common issues regarding GP appointment access, emphasizing the need for additional support and resources to improve access and service quality nationwide.
Concerns were raised about appointment booking experiences and limited choices for appointment locations and times, despite positive feedback on meeting patient needs. Suggestions included hiring more administrative staff and care navigators to facilitate appointment scheduling, referrals, prescriptions, and round-the-clock online services.