60 per cent 'satisfied'with NHS

The public is far more satisfied with the NHS than negative media coverage suggests, according to a survey carried out in the week that the Whittington Hospital Rose Addis furore peaked.

The survey of over 2,000 people across England, Wales and Scotland, carried out for management consultants KPMG in conjunction with the New Health Network, found that 82 per cent of people were satisfied with their GP and 60 per cent were satisfied with NHS hospitals.

The survey, which asked people about their experiences of the past five years since the Labour government came to power, showed that even among the young there is a high level of satisfaction with the NHS. Almost half of 15-24 year olds were satisfied with hospitals and nearly three-quarters with their GP.

However, the survey shows that dissatisfaction with the health service increases quickly the longer the wait for an outpatient appointment.

It shows that 59 per cent of people would travel anywhere in the UK for an essential, but not lifethreatening, operation if they could cut the wait for treatment from 12 to three months. Almost a third would go anywhere in Europe.

New Health Network chief executive Margaret Mythen said: 'It will sound a warning to the NHS that a patient's anxiety about their waiting time is enough to make them travel the length and breadth of the country, and even abroad, in order to have their operation more quickly.'

Nearly half the population believe that a reminder of an appointment a couple of days before would help them to keep it. Official figures for England show that 12 per cent of first appointments and 14 per cent of second appointments are missed, at an estimated cost of£267m a year.

The report suggests that pre-appointment reminders could be sent by card, e-mail, phone or text message, around 48 hours in advance.

What Patients Really Think of the NHS. KPMG Consulting and the New Health Network.

www. kpmgconsulting. co. uk