Healthwatch Solihull survey of people’s experience of GP services in the Borough of Solihull

Healthwatch Birmingham had already begun undertaking a GP survey and approached Solihull to collaborate with a cross border project GP Survey project. By adopting the same questions and using the same demographic taxonomy Healthwatch Solihull provide the opportunity, if beneficial, to compare specific findings and trends with HW Birmingham as part of a larger regional picture. Therefore, in this context it was an opportunity to continue with the work outlined in the November report. However at the time of completing this report, no comparative data from Birmingham was available.

Healthwatch Solihull received a total of 523 responses of which 81% were paper based with the remainder entered directly online. Females accounted for 70% of the responses with young people under 25 accounting for less than 10% of the responses.

Overall, high levels of satisfaction were expressed with the quality of care, treatment and service with together with high levels of satisfaction with the GP’s and surgery staff. Although the time with the doctor and timely access received high levels of satisfaction pressures on the system were apparent with the related comments. Reception area privacy featured as a concern for over half of the people who responded.