Patient experience survey is discredited says BMA
pharmafile | January 26, 2007 | News story | |
A row is brewing between doctors and the Department of Health over a major survey aimed at gauging patients' experiences of GP services.
Five million questionnaires have been sent out to patients in England and Wales – but the BMA claims the survey contains leading questions, which represents "putting words in patients mouths".
At least 200 GP practices out of a total of 8,000 are so incensed at the inclusion of the questions that they have pulled out of the survey altogether.
The dispute is over whether patients are satisfied with arrangements for early morning, evening and weekend surgeries. The BMA alleges the government added these questions just before the survey was sent out in mid-January, but without agreement from GPs.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA's general practitioners committee, said: "We reluctantly consented to having some part of practice income dependent on a patient questionnaire about access, provided it was based on fair, unbiased questions, which we agreed. Progress towards such an agreement was made until the government imposed additional questions in the survey, which were not agreed."
He added: "The questions ask patients if they are satisfied with arrangements for early morning, evening and weekend surgeries at a time when the government is not prepared to provide GP practices with the resources to open at these times, all of which are outside GPs' agreed contractual hours."
GPs are presently contracted to provide services to patients from 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank and public holidays.
Dr Meldrum said the additional questions had "totally discredited" the survey and would "put words in patients mouths".
A DH spokesman said: "We have worked closely with the general practitioners' committee on all stages of the development of the GP patient survey and committee representatives attended monthly board meetings."
The rebellion is likely to place some PCTs in an awkward position. Many will have already given practices an advanced "aspiration payment" of 41p per patient to encourage them to take part in the survey.
The DH spokesman said: "The directions are clear that those practices signing up to the survey are obliged to take part. If they do not, PCTs may consider clawing back any fees already paid."
The DH has spent approximately £12 million on the survey. The deadline for return of questionnaires is 7 April and results will be published on 31 May.
