PEOPLE on the Isle of Wight are being encouraged to take part in the 2019 GP Patient Survey — if a request drops through their letterbox.

More than two million people across the country are being sent a survey and the NHS is encouraging every invitee to share their experiences of using services at the GP practice they are registered with.

The survey provides detailed information about the ways people interact with primary care staff and how good that experience is. It plays a key role in understanding what's working and what needs to improve. It also helps understand the impact of recent changes, such as extended opening hours and other initiatives, which were carried out in response to what patients said in previous surveys.

The survey invites a sample of people aged 16 and over from over 7,000 practices across England to take part. They can complete it, by post or online, until the end of March, and there is a range of options to make it more inclusive for those who need support to take part.

Those who are randomly selected will receive a letter over the next few weeks, along with a questionnaire. Their information will be handled securely and no-one will be identified when the findings are published.

The questionnaire also asks about seeing other healthcare professionals such as on-site pharmacists, mental health specialists and practice nurses, and about people’s experiences of using online services, telephone services and face-to-face appointments.

Patients who do not receive a survey can provide useful feedback to their GP practice teams by filling in a Friends and Family Test (FFT) form at their practice any time.