Your experiences of GP practices in North Yorkshire
We're now putting together our full findings and recommendations. In the meantime, we're sharing some of the things we're hearing so far.
Why did we ask?
GP practices are often the first place people turn when they need healthcare.
We regularly hear from people about their experiences of GP services – from difficulties getting an appointment or getting through on the phone to positive experiences of helpful staff and good care.
We wanted to look more widely at people's day-to-day experiences of contacting and using GP practices across North Yorkshire – what works well, what gets in the way and what could make things better.
Building on what we've already heard
This work follows our earlier report, Making health appointments work for everyone, which looked at the experiences of people who need reasonable adjustments or additional support when accessing healthcare.
That work showed how important it is that services understand people's individual needs. This time, we wanted to hear more broadly about people's experiences of contacting and using their GP practice.
What we're hearing so far
People shared a wide range of experiences of GP practices across North Yorkshire.
58% of people who answered our question about their overall experience rated it as good or very good. People told us about helpful staff, good care, quick responses and feeling listened to.
But people also told us about difficulties accessing care. Among those who reported at least one challenge:
- 67% selected waiting too long for an appointment
- 65% selected difficulty getting through on the phone
We're also hearing that one way of accessing GP care won't work for everyone. Some people find online services quick and convenient, while others need or prefer to use the phone or speak to someone in person.
Another theme is knowing what happens next. People told us about uncertainty following tests, referrals and appointments, including when they would hear back and whether they needed to do anything themselves.
We'll explore all of these findings in more detail in our full report.
What happens next?
We'll publish our report at the end of October 2026, setting out what people told us, what we think needs to happen next and our recommendations for improving people's experiences.
We'll share the findings with GP practices, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, North Yorkshire Council and others involved in planning and improving local health services.
And we won't stop when the report is published. We'll follow up on our recommendations and keep you updated on what happens next.
Why your feedback matters
Your experiences help us understand what's working well and where things could be better.
By sharing what you experience, you help us build a clearer picture of GP services across North Yorkshire and make sure people's voices are heard by those responsible for planning and providing care.
Thank you again to everyone who took the time to share their experience.
