Patients do not know how to contact GP outside normal hours: survey Additional apointments on Saturdays were called for followed by extra evening slots, it was found. The survey comes after a similar poll found there had been the biggest drop in public satisfaction with the NHS in 30 years, probably as a result of the government's reforms. The King's Fund report found the proportion of people saying they were satisfied with how the NHS was run dropped from 70 per cent in 2010 to 58 per cent last year. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the Mori poll conducted for the government was evidence that patients have a good experience of the NHS and 90 per cent rate their experience of their GP practice as good. While this survey shows that large numbers of patients have a good or very good experience of their GP, clearly more needs to be done. That is why we want GPs to look at this information to see what is most important to patients and to help them make the improvements to their core opening hours that patients would like to see. For many patients this includes online booking of appointments, as set out in our recent Information Strategy. As part of our reforms to the urgent care system, the NHS is currently rolling out NHS 111 - the new free-to-call 24-hour service that will get patients the right care, at the right place, at the right time. The introduction of NHS 111 will mean that everyone has an easy-to-remember number to call when they don't know where to go outside normal GP hours, or just need more information, in order to improve the patient experience of care. The survey found 86 per cent thought their GP gave them enough time and 80 per cent would recommend them to a friend. Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association said: "The findings of this survey show that in many respects the vast majority of patients are satisfied with their GP practice. However it is a matter of grave concern that so many patients with long term conditions do not feel supported. We would also like to see patients given real choice, which means ensuring that GP opening hours accommodate those that work, and that wherever possible patients are assisted in seeing their preferred GP. Our Helpline is receiving an increasing number of calls from patients complaining about primary care, and this is obviously a cause for concern as the Governments reforms will shortly place even more pressure on GPs. A spokesman for the British Medical Association said: "It is important to GPs that the service they provide is high quality and therefore it is very pleasing that nine in ten people rate their overall service from their GP practice as good. When it comes to out-of-hours services, the BMA is concerned about the patchy nature of the service provided. Unfortunately many Primary Care Organisations have been too keen to cut costs at the expense of investing in a quality out-of-hours service. Dr Clare Gerada, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "Once again the survey shows a huge vote of confidence in general practice and GPs from the people who matter most: our patients. We are delighted and reassured that such a high percentage of patients' experiences at their GP surgery are so positive. It is a testament to the excellent and hard work of GPs and their teams, especially in the face of a huge overhaul of the NHS. However, we can never be complacent and are surprised that one in three patients said they could not get an appointment with their preferred doctor during a certain timeframe. Basic pillars of excellent patient care are access and continuity of care and it is very important that we preserve the unique relationship between patient and GP.