Member News
Patients are being encouraged to rate their GP surgeries on a new NHS website launched by the Department of Health.
Designed to drive up standards in primary care, patients will be able to post remarks ranging from the availability of appointments to standard of treatment at www.nhs.uk.
The views can be accessed by anyone visiting the site, comparing the 8,269 GP practices in England.
Health officials have stressed that feedback will be independently monitored, with the removal of posts of an abusive nature and any mention of staff names.
Prospective patients will also be given access to opening times and additional facilities alongside reading whether patients believed they were involved in decision making on their care.
The tool, which is part of the NHS Choices website, is similar to the hospital comparison service launch in the summer.
And it follows the recent government announcement that patients will be able to register with any GP practice of their choice within the next year, abolishing catchment areas.
Health minister Mike O'Brien said the website was part of plans to modernise the health service.
"As we open up real choice in primary care, it is vital we equip patients with enough information to make the right choice for them," O'Brien said.
"We recently announced that we intend to abolish GP practice boundaries, building on success in extending GP opening hours and establishing almost 100 new GP health centres open 12 hours a day, seven days a week across the country.
"This new tool allows every single GP practice in the country to see the patient's view on what they are doing well and what needs to be improved.
"It will help drive up quality across the board, and is another step in ensuring we have a modern NHS which reflects the needs of the patient."
There are 23 million visits to GP practices and related services every month.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd