Amanda Martin MP has welcomed new national patient survey results showing improvements in access to GP, dental and pharmacy services, saying they demonstrate that Labour’s plan to rebuild the NHS is beginning to make a real difference for patients.
The latest GP Patient Survey shows almost 77% of patients now rate their GP experience as good, while more than half (56.3%) say it is easy to contact their GP practice a significant improvement since Labour came into office. The survey also found that 81.5% of patients who tried to get an NHS dental appointment in the last two years were able to secure one, with patient satisfaction also improving across community pharmacy services.
The figures come in the same week that Amanda Martin MP spoke in Parliament during the Corridor Care debate, where she highlighted the pressures facing frontline NHS staff and the impact that delays in accessing primary care can have on overcrowded hospitals. During the debate, she called for continued investment and reform to ensure patients receive timely care in the right setting.
Amanda Martin MP for Portsmouth North said: “Speaking in this week’s Corridor Care debate, I made clear that while there is still much more to do to improve urgent and emergency care, rebuilding our NHS starts with making it easier for people to access the services they need before they reach crisis point.
“These latest patient survey results show that Labour’s reforms are beginning to deliver. More people are getting through to their GP, more patients are securing NHS dental appointments, and more care is being delivered closer to home through community pharmacies.
“Our NHS staff have worked tirelessly through years of unprecedented pressure, and these improvements are a testament to their dedication. We are backing them with the investment and reforms needed to rebuild our health service, reduce waiting times and ensure patients across Portsmouth receive the care they deserve.”
Labour promised to fix the front door of the NHS and today’s survey data show that work is starting to pay off for patients. After years of Tory failure left people stuck in the 8am scramble for a GP, unable to see a dentist and struggling to access basic care, Labour is rebuilding our NHS and making it fit for the future.
Almost 77% of people now rate their GP experience as good, over half say contacting their practice is easy, and 82% of patients who tried to get an NHS dental appointment were able to do so. There is still a long way to go, but these figures show Labour’s investment and modernisation are making a real difference.”
James Murray MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “The latest GP Patient Survey also shows we’re making real progress to improve the front door of the NHS, with almost 77% of patients reporting a ‘good’ experience – more than the last two years.
“Even in the face of record temperatures and the busiest summer in NHS history, healthcare staff have continued to deliver for patients, and I want to thank every one of them for their extraordinary dedication.
“More people are now being treated within 18 weeks than at any point since 2021, while three in four A&E patients were seen within four hours.
“This shows the hard work of NHS staff is helping more patients get the care they need, and alongside our record investment and reforms, we’re determined to keep driving waiting times down and improving care for everyone.”
