Patient satisfaction ratings with NHS services failed to show any clear improvements between 2005-06 and 2006-07, data published by the Department of Health show.

While improvements have been recorded on some indicators, others have slipped.

The biggest increase was seen in the number of hospital patients saying they had enjoyed safe, high-quality, coordinated care, which rose from 65.1 per cent in 2005-06 to 69.2 per cent in 2006-07.

But the number who said that hospitals were “clean, friendly and comfortable places to be” fell from 78.6 to 77.4 per cent.

Ratings on access and waiting also declined fractionally.

In primary care, there was an overall decline in satisfaction ratings, from 77.4 to 77 per cent, with the greatest falls being experienced in the proportion rating their care as safe, high-quality and coordinated. This declined from 81.5 per cent to 80.4 per cent.

There was also a fall in ratings for information and choice, from 80.7 per cent to 79.7 per cent, a surprising result when the Department of Health has been championing patient choice.

The figures come from the National Patient Survey Programme, and are designed to be used to measure whether the Department of Health is meeting obligations agreed with the Treasury to improve patient experience.

Andrew Lansley, the Shadow Health Secretary, charged the Government with slipping out the new statistics without announcement, either by way of a press release or a mention on the department’s home page.

He said: “Considering Labour have more than doubled spending on the NHS it is incredible that patient satisfaction is getting worse, not better.”

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