The latest GP Patient Survey of 650,000 patients in England reveals that only one in seven patients rate their family doctor as 'good', while one in ten describe their practice as 'poor' or 'very poor'. This marks a slight improvement from 2025, when 13% gave a poor rating.
Overall Satisfaction Edges Up
Despite the low 'good' rating, overall satisfaction with GP services has improved under Labour, with 76.7% of patients rating their overall experience as 'good' in 2026, up from 73.9% the previous year. The survey, conducted between January and March 2026, asked patients about their overall experience, ease of contacting the surgery, and trust in their GP.
Online Booking Surge
The survey also shows a sharp rise in online contact: 30.8% of patients contacted their practice online, nearly double the 16.9% in 2024. This follows a government mandate requiring all GP practices to offer online booking options, aimed at reducing phone line congestion and the '8am scramble' for appointments.
Patient Confidence High, but Waiting Times a Concern
An overwhelming 93% of patients expressed confidence in their GP or other health professional seen. Some 86% said the professional treated them with care and concern, and 87% felt listened to. However, only 69% felt the wait for an appointment was 'about right', while 31% said it was too long.
Expert Reaction
Will Pett, head of policy and research at Healthwatch England, said: 'While access to GP appointments is the most common issue people contact us about, the challenges facing GP teams are also well reported. Today's results are a stark reminder of the support and resources staff will need to improve access for people in England.' He added that poor experiences for one in five people when booking appointments are mirrored in feedback nationwide, and that four in ten patients are not given choices over appointment times or locations. Pett called for hiring more administrative staff and care navigators to help with bookings, referrals, and prescriptions, and to keep online services open 24/7.
Health Secretary's Response
Health Secretary James Murray said: 'This shows the hard work of NHS staff is helping more patients get the care they need. Alongside our record investment and reforms, we're determined to keep driving waiting times down and improving care for everyone.'
