2008/2009 Contract News

GP response is now ready to run 2008/9 surveys.

The approved local survey questionnaire for 2008/9 has been agreed and has not changed from last year.
The local survey as before will determine PE 2 & PE 6. PE 5 has been removed.
However, a new nationally run survey will determine the outcome of PE 7 & PE 8.

PE 1 Length of Consultations - 33 points
The length of routine booked appointments with the doctors in the practice is not less than 10 minutes. (If the practice
routinely sees extras during booked surgeries, then the average booked consultation length should allow for the average
number of extras seen in a surgery session. If the extras are seen at the end, then it is not necessary to make this
adjustment). For practices with only an open surgery system, the average face -to face time spent by the GP with the
patient is at least 8 minutes. Practices that routinely operate a mixed economy of booked and open surgeries should
report on both criteria.

PE 2 Patient surveys (1) - 25 points
The practice will have undertaken an approved patient survey each year

PE 6 Patient surveys (2) - 30 points
The practice will have undertaken an approved patient survey each year and, having reflected on the results, will produce
an action plan that:
1. sets priorities for the next 2 years
2. describes how the practice will report the findings to patients (for example, posters in the practice, a meeting with a
patient practice group or a primary care organisation (PCO) approved patient representative)
3. describes the plans for achieving the priorities, including indicating the lead person in the practice
4. considers the case for collecting additional information on patient experience, for example through surveys of patients
with specific illnesses, or consultation with a patient group.

PE 7 Patient experience of access (1) - 23.5 points - Payment stages 70-90%
The percentage of patients who, in the appropriate national survey, indicate that they were able to obtain a consultation
with a GP (in England) or appropriate healthcare professional (in Scotland, Wales and NI) within two working days (in
Wales this will be within 24 hours).

PE 8 Patient experience of access (2) - 35 points - Payment stages 60-90%
The percentage of patients who, in the appropriate national survey, indicate that they were able to book an appointment
with a GP more than two days ahead.