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General practices in England where patients have reported difficulty getting to see a doctor have been told to improve their services.
Most patients in England are happy with their ability to get an appointment to see a GP, show the results of the biggest ever survey about access to GPs commissioned by the Department of Health. But there are pockets around the country where retaining GPs remains a problem, and some communities are less satisfied with their experience of accessing general practice.
Areas in which there are problems of access are being asked to produce local action plans to improve their services, and primary care trusts have been told by the department to use their existing powers to invite new providers to offer high quality responsive services for patients.
Alan Johnson, the health secretary, who announced the measures this week, said, "I am particularly concerned about areas of deprivation where there is greater need for GP services, but fewer [services] available compared to more prosperous parts of the country. All patients in this country, no matter where they live or what their background, should enjoy first class primary care services. I...