9 June 2017
Where Patient Safety is a Concern, it Must Be Addressed Swiftly and Effectively, Says RCGP
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, has responded to a BJGP study published today on patients' experience of safety in general practice.
She said: “It is human nature to report a bad experience of a service than a good one, so the fact that most patients who responded to this survey had a positive perception of safety in their GP practice is really encouraging. However, it is important that where patient safety is a concern, it is identified and addressed swiftly and effectively.
“Providing high quality patient care and keeping our patients safe are the driving forces behind general practice, and a priority for all family doctors. This dedication has led to GPs consistently being ranked amongst the most trusted healthcare professionals in the UK – with 92% of patients reporting trust and confidence in the last GP they saw according to the latest independent GP Patient Survey.
“The College has long been highlighting the risks that rising patient demand against a backdrop of decreasing resources and insufficient numbers of GPs and practice staff could have on our patients’ safety. This research backs this up, and hammers home the need for this issue to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“Our General Election manifesto Six Steps for Safer General Practice, calls on the new Government, whatever its persuasion, to implement the pledges of NHS England’s GP Forward View - including 5,000 extra GPs and 2,000 extra nurses working alongside GPs - so we can continue to deliver the high quality and safe care that our patients need and deserve.”
Further Information
RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7574/7575/7633
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk
Notes
The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 50,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.