SOMERSET patients are more than satisfied with level of care they receive from their family doctors, a survey has revealed.
Questionnaires were sent to 1,000 NHS patients from each authority in the country asking them about the way they had been treated by their local GP and his or her team.
Out of the 34 questions posed to patients, services in Somerset were viewed to be significantly better than the national average in 21 categories.
Nine out of ten Somerset patients said that the last time they visited their GP, the doctor took time to listen to them, regardless of how busy they were.
The patients reported that they understood what the doctor was telling them and they were satisfied with the diagnosis.
The results show a high quality out-of-hours GP service for care and treatment which was well above the national average.
Nurses received high praise with 99 out of 100 people saying that when they saw a practice nurse instead of a doctor they felt the nurse knew how to deal with their needs adequately.
Somerset Health Authority chief executive Jac Kelly said: "These results are very positive and confirm our own perception that primary care services in Somerset are generally of a very high quality and, in many cases, second to none.
"We have to build on this sound foundation in partnership with our Primary Care Groups to ensure local services respond to patients' need in the best possible way."
Somerset Coast Primary Care Group chairman Dr Donal Haynes said: "These survey results are very encouraging and the PCG will continue in its efforts to drive up the quality of primary care even further.
"Primary care teams are skilled and dedicated people who sit squarely in the vanguard of patient care.
"It is very rewarding for them to learn how well people feel their needs are being provided for and the high level of appreciation they have for their services."
The survey was conducted by the Government in 1998 as part of its commitment to an annual survey of patients' experiences of the NHS.