The next National GP Patients Surveys, from 2008 to 2011, will ask patients broader questions about the quality of care they receive.
The National Primary Care Research and Development Centre (NPCRDC) will work with Ipsos MORI, who have been commissioned to carry out the surveys for the next three years, to coordinate the development of the questionnaire.
The results from the next surveys are intended to provide a greater level of information on whether practices are delivering the best services for their patients.
The 2009/10 survey will move from annual to quarterly reporting, so that the most up-to-date patient feedback is available to the NHS.
Professor Martin Roland, Professor of General Practice at University of Manchester, Professor John Campbell, Professor General Practice & Primary Care at Peninsula Medical School and Dr Peter Bower, University of Manchester, will lead the NPCRDC’s work on the new surveys.
Professor Roland said: “One of our major research interests at NPCRDC has been how to measure quality in primary care. The patient’s view has been weak up till now, and we are delighted to be involved in developing the next generation of patient questionnaires for primary care.
“Development of the new questionnaire will be part of NPCRDC’s work on quality of care. This programme of work aims to develop ways of measuring quality in primary care, and to find ways of improving it.”
Mike Everett, CEO of Ipsos MORI said: “We are delighted that we have the opportunity to continue to deliver such an important piece of work for the NHS.
“Ipsos MORI is now a centre of excellence in patient satisfaction measurement, and we are very proud to have the opportunity to help the NHS understand and listen to its patients.”
