A NATIONAL survey designed to assess the performance of GP practices highlights how easy patients find contacting their local practice.

As reported by the Star, the most recent GP patient survey was published earlier this month, which shows how confident patients feel with their local practice.

Questionnaires were sent out to patients across the country between January and March, with Kenneth McRae rated as the best performing practice in St Helens.

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Across the country, many GP practices have faced increasing pressures in recent years, with an increasing backlog of patients despite a declining number of doctors.

One of the ways to alleviate this demand has been to assess patients over the phone or online, rather than purely face-to-face, or to direct them to a more appropriate healthcare professional.

Nevertheless, as the ease of making an appointment has remained a common concern for patients, this was one theme of the survey's 63 questions.

With responses from 'very easy' to 'very difficult', patients were asked how easy they found it to contact their GP on the telephone, online, or through the practice app - with the results from St Helens' practices shown below.

How easy did patients find it to contact their GP in St Helens?

  • Atlas Medical Practice - Ease of contact via phone (32.7%). Ease of contact online (38%) Ease of contact via app (44.1%).
  • Berrymead Family Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (41.4%). Ease of contact online (57.5%) Ease of contact via app (47.1%).
  • Bethany Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (80.5%). Ease of contact online (66.2%) Ease of contact via app (58.1%).
  • Billinge Medical Practice - Ease of contact via phone (20.1%). Ease of contact online (29%) Ease of contact via app (49.8%).
  • The Bowery Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (45.3%). Ease of contact online (18.9%) Ease of contact via app (28.9%).
  • Central Surgery - Ease of contact via phone (55.9%). Ease of contact online (64.7%) Ease of contact via app (53.5%).
  • Crossroads Surgery - Ease of contact via phone (73.4%). Ease of contact online (64.6%) Ease of contact via app (60.5%).
  • Dr Rahil's Surgery - Ease of contact via phone (74%). Ease of contact online (65.9%) Ease of contact via app (62%).
  • Eccleston Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (72.6%). Ease of contact online (45.5%) Ease of contact via app (42.1%).
  • Four Acre Health Centre - Ease of contact via phone (25%). Ease of contact online (35.6%) Ease of contact via app (23.3%).
  • Garswood Surgery - Ease of contact via phone (77%). Ease of contact online (75.4%) Ease of contact via app (71.8%).
  • Hall Street Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (80.3%). Ease of contact online (83.4%) Ease of contact via app (70%).
  • Haydock Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (38.6%). Ease of contact online (48.6%) Ease of contact via app (38.9%).
  • Kenneth MacRae Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (88.2%). Ease of contact online (95.4%) Ease of contact via app (72.1%).
  • Lingholme Health Centre - Ease of contact via phone (87.5%). Ease of contact online (80.4%) Ease of contact via app (61.2%).
  • Longton Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (59.9%). Ease of contact online (60.1%) Ease of contact via app (60.8%).
  • Marshalls Cross Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (35.1%). Ease of contact online (54.3%) Ease of contact via app (35.5%).
  • Mill Street Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (44.3%). Ease of contact online (52.2%) Ease of contact via app (41.9%).
  • Newholme Surgery - Ease of contact via phone (74.1%). Ease of contact online (74.7%) Ease of contact via app (59.6%).
  • Newton Community Hospital Practice - Ease of contact via phone (59.7%). Ease of contact online (54.7%) Ease of contact via app (53.6%).
  • Newton Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (34.7%). Ease of contact online (54%) Ease of contact via app (43.2%).
  • Ormskirk House Surgery - Ease of contact via phone (46.7%). Ease of contact online (50.5%) Ease of contact via app (32.5%).
  • Parkfield Surgery - Ease of contact via phone (82.2%). Ease of contact online (89.3%) Ease of contact via app (87.3%).
  • Patterdale Lodge - Ease of contact via phone (44.1%). Ease of contact online (56.4%) Ease of contact via app (52.1%).
  • Phoenix Medical Practice - Ease of contact via phone (48.4%). Ease of contact online (62.2%) Ease of contact via app (42.1%).
  • Rainbow Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (29.7%). Ease of contact online (44.2%) Ease of contact via app (30.9%).
  • Rainford Health Centre - Ease of contact via phone (82%). Ease of contact online (83.6%) Ease of contact via app (71.2%).
  • Rainhill Village Surgery - Ease of contact via phone (57.9%). Ease of contact online (53.4%) Ease of contact via app (51.7%).
  • The Spinney Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (30.7%). Ease of contact online (55.1%) Ease of contact via app (22%).
  • Vista Road surgery - Ease of contact via phone (30%). Ease of contact online (43.4%) Ease of contact via app (54.5%).
  • Windermere Medical Centre - Ease of contact via phone (69.3%). Ease of contact online (57.8%) Ease of contact via app (53.2%).