Survey of GPs for Reform

Survey of 201 GPs conducted for Reform, published 29 June 2008

Date Published: 29 Jun 2008

Categories: Health | Professionals | Public Sector | Social | UK

poll of 201 GPs conducted on behalf of Reform. Key results:

79 per cent of GPs believe patients should be able to top-up their NHS care with private treatment. Only 18 per cent support the current system where patients must pay for all their care themselves if they choose to pay extra for a drug or treatment.
63 per cent of GPs feel the current regulatory framework hinders their ability to make the best decision in the interests of patients, with only 5 per cent believing it helps.
97 per cent of GPs say the degree of bureaucracy within the NHS has “increased a lot” or has “increased somewhat” since they qualified.
58 per cent believe the degree of bureaucracy increased most within the last 5 years. This would coincide with the new GMS contract (which introduced the QOF) that was negotiated in 2003 and introduced in April 2004.
48 per cent support the current, solely tax-payer funded system; whereas 45 per cent support moving to a more continental, compulsory health insurance model.
60 per cent of GPs rate their overall satisfaction of working within the NHS as either “low” or “very low”. This compares to slightly over a third (36 per cent) who rate it as high.
74 per cent say their satisfaction level had dropped since they qualified as a GP.
Only 13 per cent of GPs are satisfied with the way their profession is currently led, with 80 per cent feeling better leadership is required.