We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience.

Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies.

Set cookie preferences

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Publication - Statistics

Health and Care Experience Survey 2023/24: Mental Health Analysis

Published
28 November 2024
Directorate
Mental Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care

Analysis of the experiences and demographics of people who received care from their General Practice or out of hours services for a mental health reason.

Supporting documents

Experience of General Practice

Survey participants were asked about the last time that they received treatment or advice at their General Practice. 10% of respondents received treatment or advice for a mental health reason.

Figure 1: Percentage of people whose last appointment with their General Practice was for a mental health reason

A comparison of the percentage of people who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason compared to those who received treatment or advice for other reasons in Scotland in 2023/24.

Figure 1: Percentage of people whose last appointment with their General Practice was for a mental health reason 10% of people received treatment or advice from their General Practice for a mental health reason compared to 90% who received treatment or advice for other reasons.

The charts on this page show the experiences of people who received treatment or advice from their General Practice for a mental health reason compared to those who received treatment or advice for other reasons.

Participants were asked how often they had contacted their General Practice in the last year. People who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason generally contacted their General Practice more often than other patients.

  • 16% of people who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason had contacted their General Practice more than 10 times, compared to 7% for all others
  • 34% of people who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason had contacted their General Practice between 5 and 10 times, compared to 22% for all others
  • 8% of people who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason had contacted their General Practice only once, compared to 19% for all others

Figure 2: Number of times people contacted their General Practice in the last 12 months

How often people who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason contacted their General Practice compared to how often all other patients contacted their General Practice in Scotland in 2023/24.

Figure 2: Number of times people contacted their General Practice in the last 12 months 16% of people who last received treatment or advice for a mental health reason had contacted their General Practice more than 10 times, 34% had contacted their General Practice 5 to 10 times, 42% had contacted their General Practice 2 to 4 times and 8% had contacted their General Practice once. 7% of people who last received treatment or advice for other reasons had contacted their General Practice more than 10 times, 22% had contacted their General Practice 5 to 10 times, 51% had contacted their General Practice 2 to 4 times and 19% had contacted their General Practice once.

 

Participants were asked whether they agreed with fourteen statements relating to their experience that describe principles of person-centred care, referring to the last time they received treatment or advice at their General Practice.

They could choose an option on a 5-point scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. We classify responses as ‘positive’ where the respondents agree or strongly agree with the statement, ‘neutral’ where they neither agree nor disagree, and as ‘negative’ where respondents disagree or strongly disagree.

People who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason were generally less likely to rate their experience as positive.

Figure 3: How much people agree with the following statements about the last time they contacted their General Practice

The percentage of people whose response was positive to each of these statements for people who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason compared to those who received treatment or advice for other reasons in Scotland in 2023/24.

Figure 3: How much people agree with the following statements about the last time they contacted their General Practice The following are the percentages of people who agreed with each of these statements: I understood the information I was given: 85% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 91% of people with other reasons. I was treated with dignity and respect: 82% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 89% of people with other reasons. I was able to ask questions if I wanted to: 82% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 88% of people with other reasons. I was listened to: 81% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 88% of people with other reasons. I was treated with compassion and understanding: 79% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 85% of people with other reasons. I was given enough time: 73% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 84% of people with other reasons. I was involved in decisions about my treatment and care: 71% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 72% of people with other reasons. The health professional checked I understood what I had been told: 71% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 76% of people with other reasons. I felt able to make an informed choice about my treatment and care: 70% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 72% of people with other reasons. My treatment and care were well coordinated: 64% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 75% of people with other reasons. The heathcare professional knew my medical history: 63% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 69% of people with other reasons. I had a chance to ask about the benefits and risks of the treatment: 62% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 66% of people with other reasons. Staff helped me to feel in control of my treatment and care: 61% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 66% of people with other reasons. I was given the opportunity to involve the people that matter to me: 47% of those with a mental health reason agreed compared to 49% of people with other reasons.

Respondents were asked how they rated the overall quality of care provided by their General Practice. We classify responses as ‘positive’ where the respondents rated the quality of care as excellent or good, ‘neutral’ where they rated the quality of care as fair, and ‘negative’ where respondents rated the quality of care as poor or very poor.

64% of people who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason rated the overall quality of care they received as positive. This compares to 69% for all other patients.

17% of people who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason rated the overall quality of care they received as negative. This compares to 12% for all other patients.

Figure 4: Rating of the quality of care provided by the General Practice

The percentage of people whose rating of the quality of care was ‘positive’, ‘neutral’ and ‘negative’ for those who received treatment or advice for a mental health reason compared to all other patients in Scotland in 2023/24.

Figure 4: Rating of care provided by the General Practice 64% of people who last received treatment or advice for a mental health reason rated the care provided by their General Practice positively, compared to 69% of those who last received treatment or advice for other reasons. 19% of people who last received treatment or advice for a mental health reason gave the care provided by their General Practice a neutral rating, compared to 19% of those who last received treatment or advice for other reasons. 17% of people who last received treatment or advice for a mental health reason rated the care provided by their General Practice negatively, compared to 12% of those who last received treatment or advice for other reasons.

Contact

patientexperience@gov.scot

Back to top