EAST Reading MP Rob Wilson has branded the NHS's efforts to improve patient services in Woodley as "meaningless" unless they can satisfy residents.

NHS England and Wokingham Clinical Commissioning Group have issued a report highlighting improvements made to their services, after number of residents in Woodley complained to MP Wilson in 2014 about the three Woodley GP practices, Woodley Centre Surgery, Parkside Family Practice and Loddon Vale Practice.

MP Wilson took the residents' views to representatives of the health authorities in April 2014, asking them to improve their patient services in Woodley.

He told them that the main concerns included the shortage of GPs, difficulties calling the practises, shortage of Saturday appointments and lack of online services.

NHS England and Wokingham Clinical Commissioning Group were supposed to issue a report in December last year - showing improvements made - but failed to issue the report on time.

However, after more than a year after the initial meeting, NHS England and Wokingham Clinical Commissioning Group have now released the report.

The report states that there is an increase of the number of full time GPs from 18.25 to 21.9, and four new telephone lines were installed in Woodley Centre Surgery to speed up its telephone service.

Online booking is now available for 30 per cent of pre-bookable appointments at Loddon Vale and Parkside, with Woodley Centre Surgery set to follow suit.

Despite the positive changes, a number of patients are still left unsatisfied.

The report states that there were numerous negative responses by residents to a GP Patient Survey, issued on behalf of NHS England.

MP Wilson said he hopes the health services will continue to make improvements until residents are satisfied.

He said: "Whilst there seems to have been some progress in terms of recruitment of GPs and staff, as well as improving communication with and access to the surgeries, it is still disappointing to read that patients' satisfaction, as recorded by the surveys, is not as high as would be expected.

"At face value, some of the figures and statistics sound impressive, but they are meaningless if Woodley residents are not experiencing a noticeable improvement in the service they are receiving. It’s true to say that before the meeting in April last year, I was receiving regular emails, phone calls and letters from constituents complaining about the difficulties they had experienced in accessing GP appointments. These have reduced significantly, which gives me hope that the changes implemented are beginning to have the desired impact.

The survey asked residents about their overall satisfaction at Woodley practices, those who would recommend the series to someone in the area, ease of access to surgeries by telephone and whether same day appointment promises were held.

MP Wilson added: "Rest assured, I will continue to push for the best possible access to GP surgeries and will hold to account NHS decision-makers if there is any suggestion of under-performance."