Medical negligence lawyers have welcomed a national survey revealing that improving access to GP appointments should be the National Health Service’s top target in 2015.

Researchers from national consumer champion Healthwatch asked respondents to outline the biggest health and care issues for their local residents.

And its network of more than 150 local organisations highlighted difficulties arranging to see a doctor as the primary concern.

Other issues raised were the quality of the systems for booking GP appointments, limited time available to see your doctor and bad staff attitude.

Healthwatch chair Anna Bradley said: “It’s not surprising to hear access to GPs coming out as the top issue. Everywhere I go I hear about people’s frustrations getting an appointment with their doctor.

“There are lots of ideas on the table at the moment about how this can be improved, from evening and weekend opening to setting new targets around guaranteed waiting times, but the real key here is to ask people how they want to be able to access primary care.”

Second on the list of concerns was giving patients the necessary levels of support after they return home from a hospital or care home came.

Third came ensuring local commissioners properly engage and involve communities in important discussions about changes to local health and care services.

Other issues included access to services for those suffering from mental health problems, quality of home care and complaints-handling by health and social care organisations.

Compensation claims involving medical negligence lawyers increased by almost 20% during 2012/13.

Healthwatch England is the national consumer champion in health and care, which has statutory powers to ensure the voice of the consumer is strengthened and heard by those who commission, deliver and regulate care and health services.

Macks Solicitors has lawyers in Middlesbrough, Darlington and Redcar and can offer expert advice on GP negligence claims and all other medical negligence issues.