Table 5.

Determinants of positive responses to the ‘access’ questions in the GP Patient Survey 2012

Predictor variables: adjusted regression coefficients, B (95% CI)a
GP Patient Survey questionbMedian (interquartile range)GP training practice% registered patients aged ≥65 yearsIMD, 2010 scoreEthnicity: South Asian, %Ethnicity: Black African or Caribbean, %Practice list sizePractice list size per FTE GPFemale GPs, %Mean GP age, years
Q3: Ease of getting through on the phone, % very easy34.1 (22.4–48.6)n/s−0.15 (−0.22 to −0.07)−0.08 (−0.10 to −0.05)−0.17 (−0.20 to −0.14)−0.12 (−0.19 to −0.05)−1.99 (−2.08 to −1.89)−3.57 (−4.19 to −2.94)−0.03 (−0.04 to −0.02)0.31 (0.25 to 0.36)
Q4: Helpfulness of reception, % very helpful54.0 (44.4–64.4)1.18 (0.41 to 1.95)0.16 (0.09 to 0.22)n/s−0.20 (−0.23 to −0.18)−0.09 (−0.14 to −0.03)−1.37 (−1.44 to −1.29)−2.37 (−2.87 to −1.87)−0.02 (−0.03 to −0.01)0.20 (0.16 to 0.24)
Q5: Overheard at reception, % not overheard7.14 (4.35–11.5)n/s0.05 (0.02 to 0.09)−0.02 (−0.03 to −0.01)n/sn/s−0.15 (−0.20 to −0.11)−0.45 (−0.74 to −0.16)n/s0.03 (0.01 to 0.06)
Q9: Frequency of seeing preferred GP, % always or almost always45.3 (34.3–57.7)n/s0.48 (0.40 to 0.55)−0.04 (−0.06 to −0.01)−0.15 (−0.17 to −0.12)−0.22 (−0.29 to −0.16)−1.08 (−1.17 to −0.99)n/s−0.06 (−0.07 to −0.04)0.56 (0.51 to 0.61)
Q12: Able to get an appointment or speak to someone, % yes78.3 (70.3–85.6)1.38 (0.78 to 1.97)0.22 (0.18 to 0.27)−0.10 (−0.12 to −0.08)−0.15 (−0.17 to −0.13)−0.14 (−0.18 to −0.10)−0.57 (−0.63 to −0.52)−1.84 (−2.22 to −1.45)−0.01 (−0.02 to −0.00)0.19 (0.15 to 0.22)
Q14: How long until you actually saw or spoke to a GP/nurse, % on the same day32.6 (24.5–43.6)n/sn/sn/s−0.06 (−0.08 to −0.03)n/sn/sn/sn/sn/s
Q15: Convenience of appointment, % very convenient51.6 (43.9–59.7)n/s0.16 (0.11 to 0.21)−0.02 (−0.04 to −0.00)−0.19 (−0.21 to −0.17)−0.11 (−0.16 to −0.06)−1.00 (−1.06 to −0.93)−1.92 (−2.33 to −1.51)−0.03 (−0.04 to −0.02)0.17 (0.13 to 0.20)
Q18: Overall experience of making an appointment, % very good41.4 (31.1–53.3)1.16 (0.30 to 2.02)0.14 (0.07 to 0.20)−0.07 (−0.09 to −0.05)−0.19 (−0.22 to −0.17)−0.15 (−0.21 to −0.09)−1.52 (−1.61 to −1.44)−2.96 (−3.52 to −2.41)−0.03 (−0.04 to −0.02)0.28 (0.23 to 0.33)
Q19: Waiting time at surgery, % less than 5 minutes8.57 (5.30–13.4)−0.61 (−1.06 to −0.17)−0.09 (−0.12 to −0.05)−0.02 (−0.03 to −0.01)− 0.04 (−0.05 to −0.03)−0.09 (−0.12 to −0.06)−0.24 (−0.29 to −0.20)−0.43 (−0.72 to −0.14)−0.04 (−0.04 to −0.03)n/s
Q20: How do you feel about how long you normally have to wait to be seen, % I don’t have to wait too long66.4 (55.6–75.4)n/s0.34 (0.28 to 0.40)n/s−0.20 (−0.23 to −0.18)−0.29 (−0.34 to −0.23)−0.50 (−0.58 to–0.42)−1.48 – (2.00 to −0.95)−0.05 (−0.06 to −0.04)n/s
Q25: Satisfaction with opening hours, % very satisfied44.3 (36.8–52.5)n/s−0.12 (−0.18 to −0.07)0.07 (0.05 to 0.09)−0.14 (−0.16 to −0.12)n/s−0.52 (−0.59 to −0.45)−2.72 (−3.16 to −2.28)−0.03 (−0.04 to −0.02)n/s
Q26 GP surgery currently open at times convenient for you, % yes82.6 (78.0–86.8)n/s0.14 (0.11 to 0.17)0.05 (0.04 to 0.06)−0.08 (−0.09 to −0.07)−0.04 (−0.07 to −0.01)−0.24 (−0.27 to −0.20)−1.16 (−1.41 to −0.92)−0.02 (−0.02 to −0.01)n/s
  • a B values only included if P <0.05; values for P >0.05 denoted by ‘n/s’ (not significant).

  • b Questionnaire numbers as they appear on the GP Patient Survey, 2011/2012. FTE = full-time equivalent. IMD = Index of Multiple Deprivation.