Dip in access to family doctors revealed in massive survey of patients

A total of 80 per cent of patients who wanted a quick appointment got one last year, down from 84 per cent in the previous year.

This means that one in five patients had to wait longer to see their doctor.

The survey also found falls in satisfaction with GP services compared with the previous year.

However, the British Medical Association (BMA) said overall satisfaction levels remained high despite the extra pressure on doctors from the swine flu pandemic.

The poll of more than two million patients in England found 71 per cent of patients who wanted to book ahead for an appointment could do so, down from 76 per cent in the previous year.

Three-quarters (75 per cent) of those wanting an appointment with a particular doctor could get one all or a lot of the time, down from 77 per cent.

Some 81 per cent of patients were either very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the hours their GP surgery was open, down one per cent on the previous year. But more than half (56 per cent) said they would like their surgery to open at extra times.

Overall, 90 per cent of patients in 2009/10 reported being either very satisfied or fairly satisfied with the overall care they received at their surgery, down one per cent.

Dr Laurence Buckman, chairman of the BMA's GPs committee, said: "Between June and November last year, practices were overloaded with work related to the swine flu pandemic.

"We're therefore not surprised to see the slight dip in the access figures. GPs would obviously like every patient to be happy with the care they receive, but we are pleased that overall, nine in 10 people remain satisfied with their care.

"We still question whether spending millions of pounds on this survey is value for money."

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "The previous Government poured 161m into enforcing a one-size-fits-all extended opening hours scheme. And yet patient satisfaction on access has gone down."