More patients across the South East are satisfied with their GP and reporting better experiences when accessing care, according to the 2026 GP Patient Survey published today.

The results show 76% of people rating their overall experience as good, up from 75.4% in 2025, with 56% finding it easy to get through to their practice via phone compared to 52% in 2025; 52% via the NHS App increasing from 49% in 2025, and 93% feeling confident and trusted by the professional they saw.

The increased satisfaction shows that changes made across general practice are delivering real benefits for patients.

Across the region, GP practices, Primary Care Networks and Integrated Care Boards have been improving access, growing the use of the NHS App and online consultation platforms so patients can get the right help, in the right way, at the right time. The survey results show that patients are feeling the impact of these improvements — with more convenient routes into care, quicker responses, and clearer communication.

Luke Dallal, Deputy Regional Director for Primary Care Transformation, said:

“More patients across the South East are telling us they can get through to their practice, get the appointment they need, and
feel confident in the care they receive which shows real progress being made to improve patient experience in general practice.

“Behind every improvement is a team of people working hard to redesign access, strengthen continuity and make it easier for patients to get the care they need.

“Our practices are delivering change every day — whether through digital innovation, expanded multidisciplinary teams or new models of care that bring support closer to home. I’m incredibly proud of the work happening across the region, and these results show that patients are feeling the benefit.”

Additionally, announced earlier this week, patients will benefit from faster access to care, more GP appointments, modern NHS facilities and more services closer to home thanks to further funding as part of the government’s 10 Year Capital Plan.

In the South East over 750,000 more GP appointments will be unlocked as a result of almost £10m investment in facilities across the region.

Chatham Street Surgery in Reading, which serves one of the town’s more deprived communities, has also redesigned its access model to make care more inclusive and responsive. The practice introduced online consultation tools to give patients greater choice and flexibility, while retaining telephone access for those less confident with digital services. This balanced approach means patients can contact the practice in a way that suits them and receive support more quickly. Led by Dr Avas Asghar, the practice has seen improvements in patient experience and is now supporting neighbouring practices to adopt similar innovations. Explore primary care access or digital consultation models.

Foundry Healthcare in Lewes is one example of how redesigned access is improving patient experience. Serving 28,500 patients across Lewes and Ringmer, the practice launched a full‑day online consultation system in April 2024, allowing people to contact their GP from 6:00am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday. Every request is triaged by a GP, ensuring patients are directed quickly to the right service — whether that’s Pharmacy First, administrative support or a long‑term condition review.

The results have been clear for patients: 25% of requests are now resolved without needing a GP appointment, urgent cases are seen more quickly thanks to paramedic support, continuity for those with complex needs has increased, and satisfaction has risen, with 80% rating overall care as good and 74% satisfied with appointments. Patients report shorter waits, smoother communication and a more personalised experience. Explore digital triage models or primary care transformation.

Also helping deliver faster, better care for patients is capital investment to update and modernise buildings, helping to expand clinical space.

Arlington Road Medical Practice in Eastbourne has recently undergone a major refurbishment to modernise its clinical and patient‑facing spaces, creating a more welcoming, efficient environment and expanding the number of rooms available for care. The upgraded facilities have allowed the practice to redesign how it uses space, improve patient flow and provide clinicians with the modern infrastructure needed to deliver high‑quality care. The refurbishment has also strengthened the practice’s ability to meet rising local demand, particularly as the population grows and patient needs become more complex.

Arlington Road has been able to recruit additional GPs, nurses and multidisciplinary roles, increasing appointment availability and improving continuity for patients with long‑term conditions. These changes mean patients are now experiencing shorter waits, quicker responses to urgent needs and more consistent care from clinicians they know.

The GP Patient Survey provides an important snapshot of patient experience across England. For the South East, the 2026 results highlight both the progress already made and the continued commitment to delivering better, faster and more personalised care for every community.