Rural patients have had their say over their experience of health and care during 2021/22.

In the national NHS Scotland Health and Care Experience Survey 2021/22 NHS patients have reported the following experience with GP and other healthcare services. Key findings are as follows:

• Overall Care provided by GP practice: 67% positive (-12%)
• Easy to contact GP practice in the way that they want to: 75% positive (-10%)
• If they need to see or speak to a doctor / nurse quite urgently, seen within 2 working days: 85% positive (-1%)
• Received most of their treatment or advice from a doctor: 68% respondents (-6%)
• Received most of their treatment or advice from a nurse: 24% respondents (4%)
• Received a face-to-face appointment at their GP practice 37% respondents (-49%)
• Received a telephone appointment with their GP practice 57% respondents (46%)
• Overall experience of care received from an NHS service when GP practice was closed: 67% positive (-12%)

There was a higher response rate from people living in rural areas than urban areas, with remote rural areas showing a response rate of 34% compared with 19% of those living in large urban areas. A full breakdown responses and demographics can be found in the Technical Report.