Short Cuts: Wait to see GP is patients' biggest bugbear

People under 45, members of ethnic minorities and Londoners are less satisfied with their GPs than other patients, the first national NHS survey has revealed. Many patients among the 100,000 questioned believe they have to wait too long to see their family doctor. Workers and full-time students were most critical of surgery hours. Twenty per cent of those in work and 15 per cent of all respondents had put off seeing their GP at least once in the past year because of 'inconvenient' surgery hours. Health secretary Alan Milburn said the survey sent 'a very encouraging' message but added: 'We must ensure that the right frameworks are there for GPs, nurses and other health workers to provide responsive and accessible services for local communities.'