SOME 96 per cent of patients have “confidence and trust” in their GPs – both in Liphook and across south-east Hampshire.

The results were published in the 2017 national GP Patient Survey, and cover the 20 practices in the South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group area, which runs from Hayling Island to Bordon.

According to the NHS, the survey showed patients generally had a good experience visiting their local surgery, including convenient appointments and helpful receptionists.

An average of 95 per cent of patients in Liphook felt they could get through to their surgery by telephone, according to the survey results covering the two GP surgeries serving the parish.

A total of 83 per cent described their experience of making an appointment at Liphook Village Surgery, on Midhurst Road, as good, while 93 per cent would recommend Liphook and Liss Surgery, off Station Road, to someone new in the area.

Both compare favourably against national average figures of 73 per cent and 77 per cent respectively, but averages in south-east Hampshire were marginally higher.

Some 88 per cent of Liphook Village Surgery patients found it easy to get through to the surgery by telephone while 78 per cent of Liphook and Liss Surgery patients usually waited 15 minutes or less after their appointment time to be seen.

The survey states few suggested improvements for Liphook and Liss Surgery, with 87 per cent of respondents confirming the last nurse they saw or spoke to was good at explaining tests and treatments.

Meanwhile, 97 per cent had confidence and trust in the last nurse seen and 92 per cent say the nurse was good at listening to them.

A total of 76 per cent of Liphook Village Nursery respondents said the last nurse they saw or spoke to was good at involving them in decisions about their care, while 87 per cent praised the last GP they spoke to, stating he or she was good at listening. Eighty-five per cent found the receptionists at the surgery helpful.

Dr Barbara Rushton, a Liphook and Liss Surgery GP, who chairs the South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “This survey shows people have great confidence in their doctors and nurses at their local surgeries, so I would like to thank all the staff who work in general practice for their efforts on behalf of their patients.”

The average for patients feeling they had to wait too long was 35 per cent – for nine per cent it was far too long – and 55 per cent felt they did not have to wait too long.

The clinical commissioning group’s results were generally in line with national averages, although there were lower scores for getting through on the phone and waiting times.

From January to March, working on behalf of NHS England, Ipsos MORI sent out more than 7,500 survey forms, of which around half were returned.

The survey measured patients’ experience across five themes – making appointments, waiting times, perceptions of care, practice opening hours and out-of-hours services.

Key findings included:

* More than eight-out-of-10 patients described their experience at their surgery as good with 86 per cent locally – the national average was 85 per cent.

* Seventy-four per cent of South East Hampshire patients – comfortably above the 68 per cent national average – said it was easy to get through to their surgery on the phone.

* Some 88 per cent of patients in South East Hampshire said the receptionists were helpful – in line with the national average of 87 per cent.

* Most people in South East Hampshire (87%) said they could get an appointment to see or speak to a GP or nurse last time they tried.

* Despite the increasing demands for GP services, 92 per cent described the appointment they received as convenient.

* Around half the respondents in South East Hampshire (55%) said they “don’t wait too long” to be seen. But 35 per cent of people said they did have to wait too long.

* And 76 per cent of patients in the county were satisfied with the hours that their surgery was open.

There was also praise for the GPs and nurses who work in general practice.

Patients were asked if their doctors gave them enough time, listened to them, explained tests and treatments, involved them in decisions about their care and treated them with care and concern – and all the scores ranged from a low of 80 up to 91 per cent.

The scores were even better for nurses, with nearly all respondents – 97 per cent in South East Hampshire - saying they had confidence and trust in their practice nurse.

Some 96 per cent had “confidence and trust” in the GP they saw or spoke to – slightly above the national average (95 per cent) and the figures were higher for nurses at 97 per cent (South East Hampshire).