PATIENTS in Mid Devon have rated local GP and other family health services in the top 20 per cent of primary care trusts nationally, in a number of key areas, a new NHS survey reveals.
Mid-Devon Primary Care Trust, which covers the Okehampton area, was in the top 20% in more than two-thirds of all areas reviewed.
In the survey, published last week, no ?below average? marks were given to the trust.
The research, run by the independent performance monitoring organisation, The Commission for Health Improvement, asked more than 800 people in Mid Devon about their experiences of health services in a survey distributed via every primary care and NHS Trust earlier this year.
There was a 52% response rate to the questionnaire.
Lesley Dunaway, chief executive with Mid Devon Primary Care Trust said: ?Out of the 52 services studied, 38 were scored at a 75% satisfaction rate or higher.
?We are absolutely delighted with the results of the survey because it reflects the hard work of all our staff, as well as our colleagues in GP, dental practices, pharmacies and opticians.?
Ten of the 36 areas where the trust was rated in the top 20% of primary care trusts, are listed below:
l Waiting times to be seen by a GP or other health professional
l Being given enough time to discuss a health problem
l Confidence in health professionals? knowledge about individual patient treatment and care
l Placing trust in health professionals
l Out-of-hours access to health services
l Getting through to the surgery by telephone
l Convenient GP surgery opening times
l Eye tests, flu jabs and family planning advice
l Being involved in decisions about treatment and care
l Information about medicines
Areas where the trust was rated average and needs to improve were highlighted including access to family health services ? GPs, dentists, pharmacists and opticians ? and giving more choice on support, advice and information on particular health issues and services.
?After our two star rating, it is very important to know how our patients view us and what they feel about the services we provide, because that tells us where we?re getting things right and where we need to improve,? added Mrs Dunaway.