Website to compare GPs' services

Patients will be able to check the MMR jabs rate at their surgery

A website that allows patients to find out how many routine tests and vaccinations are carried out at their GP's surgery is to be launched.

YourGuidetoGeneralPractice.org.uk provides details on how family doctors at named surgeries are performing.

Organisers hope that if the scheme is successful it will be taken up across the NHS.

Nine south Wales GP practices are taking part in the project, run jointly by Swansea and Manchester Universities.

The GP practices, three in Swansea and six in Neath Port Talbot, have agreed to post their records for routine procedures on the website.

Topics covered include the number of infant MMR jabs, pre-school immunisation boosters, flu vaccinations for the over 65s, cervical smears, breast screenings and cholesterol checks for heart disease patients.

Patients will be able to access the information to compare how well their surgery does, compared to the others taking part.

The study also includes eight GP surgeries in Derbyshire and four in Salford.

Glyn Elwyn, Professor of Primary Care at Swansea University's School of Medicine, said the scheme was making public information that was usually "buried away" in NHS reports.

Leaflet form

He said: "It's set up to be show the range of services that GPs offer.

"Putting yourself through more transparency goes on in schools and hospitals, but I do not think it has been extended so far to general practice organisations.

"We hope (it) will lead to debate and discussion about how to improve the responsiveness of primary care."

The information on the website is also available in leaflet form.

The research is led by the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, in collaboration with the Primary Care Group of Swansea University's School of Medicine.