A QUARTER of patients in north Hampshire had to wait more than 15 minutes to see their GP, according to figures from a new survey.

The nationwide GP Patient Survey, which collates data from hundreds of thousands of patients, has been published by NHS England and gives a breakdown of patient satisfaction at every surgery in the country.

It covers everything from the trust patients have in their doctor, to the attitude of reception staff and how easy it is to get an appointment.

A total of 89 per cent of patients visiting GP surgeries within the North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group area, which covers Basingstoke, said they were satisfied overall, compared with 85 per cent nationally.

Of the 20 surgeries that fall under North Hampshire CCG, 11 were better than average and nine were worse for overall experience.

The best performing surgery for patient satisfaction was Boundaries Surgery in Four Marks, where 99 per cent of patients were happy with their overall experience, while the worst was Camrose Medical Partnership, in South Ham, where 72 per cent of patients were happy with their overall experience.

The figures showed that 10 per cent of patients in north Hampshire waited less than five minutes for an appointment, which was the same nationally, while 58 per cent had to wait between five and 15 minutes, compared to 55 per cent nationally.

A total of 25 per cent of patients in north Hampshire had to wait more than 15 minutes for their appointment, which was still lower than the national average of 27 per cent.

Nearly half (49 per cent) of patients who responded to the survey in north Hampshire said their last GP appointment was good, which was higher than the national average of 47 per cent.

A total of 5,154 questionnaires were sent out to patients in north Hampshire, and 2,295 were returned completed, representing a rate of 45 per cent.

Seventy-five per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with the opening hours of their surgery, which was the same nationally.

When asked how easy it is to get through to someone on the phone at their GP surgery, Crown Heights Medical Centre, in the town centre, came off worst, with 45 per cent of patients saying it was easy to get through, compared to 70 per cent nationally.

Asked whether the receptionists were helpful, 87 per cent of respondents in north Hampshire said they were, which was the same nationally.

The survey asked how easy it is to get an appointment.

Eighty-five per cent of respondents in north Hampshire said they were able to make an appointment, which was the same nationally.