News story

17th March 2001

NHS Survey Results

South Gloucestershire residents have given a big vote of confidence in the doctors, nurses and other staff who keep the NHS going locally. Despite unhappiness about the long waiting times for treatment, residents have said that the best thing about the NHS in this area is the people who work in the service.

The overwhelming vote of confidence came in response to the large-scale survey recently carried out by Northavon MP Steve Webb into local views on the Health Service. When asked what was the best thing about the NHS over 1000 people out of the more than 5000 respondents said it was their GP and another 800 said it was nurses or other medical staff. Most residents also felt that they had received good treatment as a hospital outpatient and very much valued the convenience of existing local services.

The biggest complaints were waiting times - raised by over 2000 respondents - and parking problems at the major hospitals.

Commenting on the results of the Survey Steve Webb said:

“The people who work in the NHS are what make it so special, despite all the pressures. I am very pleased to be able to report this massive vote of confidence in the hard-pressed NHS staff and to add my thanks for the fantastic job they do.”

The survey was undertaken over the period September to December last year, and over 5000 households wrote to Steve Webb to tell him their views. In addition to specific questions about the future of Southmead and Frenchay Hospitals, whose results have already been reported, the survey asked residents to identify the best and worst things about the health service locally in their experience.

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