Data on GPs' listening skills and accessibility to patients is to be published for the first time, as part of the National GP Patients Survey, worth an average of £8,000 to each UK practice.

It will be interesting to see how this evolves, and whether patients are allowed to be anonymous, and whether they are allowed to name clinicians in their survey replies. The new web site allowing patients to 'rate' the care they receive from their GP is bad enough for allowing bad feedback! If this syrvey DOES actually improve the care given to patients, rather than how friendly and understanding the clinician was at time of consultation, then all well and good.

Accessibility to patients is probably reasonable if looked at properly but Listening skills ???? When you have 10 minute consultations rammed down your throat, it is ludicrous to assess Listening skills. You are bound to be playing catch up on most days and in spite of your best efforts, rub some patients with big shopping lists, up the wrong way. Get real !!!!

Just as patients are asked to come armed with their questions and queries , maybe the G.P. should seek training in listening and assessing patients needs within that 10 minutes allocated for them. From my experience this cannot be achieved unless the Dr.'s skill and expertise are above average to optimum.