Friends and Family Test (FFT)
The Friends and Family Test (FFT) is a patient feedback tool available to all who use GP practice services. It provides patients with an opportunity to comment on their overall experience of care and helps practices identify what is working well and where improvements may be needed. Patients are also given the opportunity to provide free-text comments.
Practices must use the nationally specified FFT question and response options, include at least one follow-up question, submit data to NHS England each month, and publish results locally.
The FFT became a contractual requirement for GP practices on 1 December 2014. It was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic and reintroduced in April 2022.
Practice Requirements
GP practices must:
- Provide an opportunity for all patients to give anonymous feedback through the FFT, unless inappropriate.
- Use the standard FFT wording and response options.
- Include at least one follow-up question with a free-text option.
- Submit data to NHS England each month in the required format.
- Publish FFT results locally.
Further Guidance
- NHSE FFT Resources – includes guidance on data submission and data packs.
- Submission guidance for GP practices (updated January 2024)
- CQC Mythbuster 16 – FFT (updated Dec 2022)