MEASURE OF SATISFACTION OF GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS WITH THE CHEMICAL PATHOLOGY SERVICES IN LEEDS WESTERN HEALTH DISTRICT

The satisfaction of general practitioners with the District Chemical Pathology Services in Leeds Western Health District was assessed by means of a postal questionnaire. The areas of interest covered included communication, test turn-round times, format of reports, advice about tests undertaken in the practice and chemical pathology information services. Communication with the laboratory was the major area of dissatisfaction (21% GPs), followed by test turn-round times (14%) and format of reports (10%). More than half the respondents were interested in an offer of help in selecting equipment for their surgeries and subsequent quality control. Customer satisfaction will become an important issue as a result of the NHS reforms and laboratories may find this exercise useful.