In 2006, the Department of Health commissioned the Picker Institute to carry out this survey using exactly the same survey instrument as the PCT surveys carried out by the Healthcare Commission within the National Patient Survey Programme. The report on the survey has now been published. The results shows that 88 per cent of patients now report having the chance to see GP within 48 hours; many patients report seeing a GP well inside two working days; and that four out of ten (41 per cent) patients receive an appointment on the same working day they contacted their GP. (DH - press release)