The best and worst GP surgeries in Dorset according to patients

The GP Patient Survey has revealed Dorset’s best and worst doctor’s surgeries in 2019.

• Last year's survey results
• 2017's survey results

Residents were asked for their opinion on a variety of elements with practices, from booking appointments, waiting times, out-of-hours services and the quality of care given.

Across Dorset 23,255 surveys were handed out to patients and 10,419 were completed and returned.

Overall practices in the Dorset CCG recorded a 87 per cent positive satisfaction rating, four per cent above the national average, but two per cent down on the county’s performance last year.

The following findings relate to practices in the Daily Echo circulation area. For overall satisfaction ratings for all of Dorset go to the bottom of this article.

Corfe Castle Surgery came out the highest patient satisfaction rating, with 99 per cent rating them as good or better for a second year in a row. A further three practices – Southbourne Practice, Denmark Road Medical Centre in Winton, Orchid House Surgery in Ferndown – received 97 per cent.

The lowest ranked practice was Alma Partnership, with a 58 per cent overall satisfaction rating, while another 14 practices in the region were below the national average. These were Blackmore Vale Partnership (82 per cent), Providence Surgery (82 per cent), Heatherview Medical Centre (80 per cent), Grove Surgery (80 per cent), The Wellbridge Practice (80 per cent), Lilliput Surgery (79 per cent), The Panton Practice (77 per cent), West Moors Group Practice (77 per cent), Talbot Medical Centre (76 per cent), The Banks & Bearwood Medical Centre (76 per cent), Christchurch Medical Practice (74 per cent), The Marine and Oakridge Partnership (71 per cent), Longfleet House Surgery (68 per cent) and Shelley Manor & Holdenhurst Medical Centre (67 per cent).

The Alma Partnership at Alma Medical Centre in Winton

Two Dorset practices – Stalbridge Surgery and Boscombe Manor Medical Centre – had insufficient survey responses to be included in the analysis.

A total of 76 per cent of Dorset residents who completed the survey said their overall experience when making an appointment was good. This was down two per cent on 2018.

Corfe Castle Surgery was ranked as good for this area by 100 per cent of patients, while Denmark Road Medical Centre and The Old Dispensary received a 98 per cent good rating. Christchurch Medical Practice scored the lowest in this category with 52 per cent. Swanage Medical Practice, The Marine & Oakridge Partnership, and Grove Surgery faired marginally better.

Denmark Road Medical Centre in Winton

More than a quarter of Dorset residents – 29 per cent – said they were not satisfied by the available appointment times.

The survey revealed 39 per cent of patient responses at Christchurch Medical Practice were dissatisfied with the range of appointments on offer, the worst record in the county. The Old Dispensary was rated as the best in this area, with 98 per cent patient approval on the range of appointment times on offer.

Meanwhile, 30 per cent of Dorset patients said they had to wait for more than 15 minutes after their scheduled appointment before they saw a healthcare professional. At two surgeries the majority of patients said they had to wait for longer than 15 minutes after their appointment time before they were seen or spoken to. The practices in question were Longfleet House Surgery and Farmhouse Surgery.

The helpfulness of receptionists was also surveyed, with Dorset GPs polling at 93 per cent being helpful.

The Marine & Oakridge Partnership came out as the worst practice, with only 74 per cent of patients stating reception staff were helpful. Corfe Castle Surgery and The Harvey Practice both received 100 per cent approval for the helpfulness of receptionists.

Patients were also asked how easy is it was to get through to someone at their practice on the phone. In the Dorset CCG area, 81 per cent said it was easy. Corfe Castle Surgery and The Old Dispensary both recorded 100 per cent for this category, while Christchurch Medical Practice was rated as the worst, with just 33 per cent of patients stating it was easy.

Christchurch Medical Centre is part of Christchurch Medical Practice

In total 58 per cent of Dorset patients said they usually prefer to see a particular doctor, but only 59 per cent see their preferred GP most of the time. The Marine & Oakridge Partnership was rated as the worst in this category, with just 22 per cent of patients saying they got to see their preferred GP when they wanted to. The Old Dispensary came out on top in this field, with 90 per cent of patients able to see their preferred doctor.

Rob Payne, Dorset CCG head of primary and community care, said: “Overall the results of the survey show Dorset practices scoring consistently above the national average for patient experience.

“Nearly 90 per cent of people described their experience of their GP practice as good which is testament to the ongoing efforts of staff to ensure local people can have access to high quality services, despite the increasing demands that are faced by General Practice.”

"We also recognise that there are variations in patient experience across the county and we are continuing to work with practices to understand the reasons for this and help ensure improvements are made.”

The independent watchdog for health and care in Dorset said patients often raise concerns about accessing their GP services.

Louise Bate, Healthwatch Dorset manager, said: “While it’s great to see fairly high satisfaction ratings with GP services locally, we hear from many people who have trouble just getting in to see someone at their GP surgery.

"More than 300 people took part in our recent Healthwatch survey on how to improve local NHS services. The top four things people across Dorset told us they want are: Quicker and easier access to GPs; speedier diagnosis and treatment options; annual health checks and more regular support for those with long-term health conditions.

“You can read the full report on our website healthwatchdorset.co.uk”

Heatherview Medical Centre in Poole saw overall patient satisfaction drop by 13 per cent this year

The overall patient satisfaction ratings for Dorset GP practices (percentage change from last year):

1. Puddletown Surgery – 100 per cent (0)
2. Bute House – 99 per cent (+2)
3. Corfe Castle Surgery – 99 per cent (0)
4. Charmouth Medical Practice – 98 per cent (-1)
5. Queens Avenue Surgery – 98 per cent (-1)
6. Cross Road Surgery – 97 per cent (+4)
7. Southbourne Practice – 97 per cent (+4)
8. The Dorchester Road Surgery – 97 per cent (-1)
9. Fordington Surgery – 97 per cent (-1)
10. Denmark Rd Medical Centre – 97 per cent (-2)
11. Orchid House Surgery – 97 per cent (0)
12. Yetminster Medical Centre – 96 per cent (0)
13. St Albans Medical Centre – 96 per cent (+5)
14. Lyme Bay Medical Practice – 96 per cent (+4)
15. Wyke Regis & Lanehouse Medical Practice – 96 per cent (+6)
16. Dr Newman – 96 per cent (-2)
17. Stour Surgery – 95 per cent (+8)
18. Highcliffe Medical Centre – 95 per cent (+6)
19. The Barcellos Family Practice – 95 per cent (-3)
20. Wessex Road Surgery – 95 per cent (+2)
21. Milton Abbas Surgery – 95 per cent (-1)
22. Littledown Surgery – 95 per cent (-4)
23. Gillingham Medical Practice – 94 per cent (+3)
24. Cerne Abbas Surgery – 94 per cent (+2)
25. Pound Piece & Tunnel Road Surgeries – 94 per cent (new surgery)
26. Penny’s Hill Practice – 94 per cent (+1)
27. The Old Dispensary – 94 per cent (+4)
28. Poole Town Surgery – 94 per cent (-3)
29. The Harvey Practice – 94 per cent (-2)
30. Bere Regis Surgery – 94 per cent (+4)
31. Parkstone Tower Practice – 94 per cent (+7)
32. Sandford Surgery – 94 per cent (-3)
33. The Cranborne Practice – 93 per cent (-1)
34. The Adam Practice – 93 per cent (-4)
35. Wareham Surgery – 93 per cent (+3)
36. Beaufort Road Surgery – 93 per cent (+5)
37. The Prince of Wales Surgery – 93 per cent (-1)
38. Quarterjack Surgery – 92 per cent (-6)
39. Evergreen Oak Surgery – 92 per cent (-4)
40. The Verwood Surgery – 92 per cent (+2)
41. Newland Surgery – 92 per cent (+3)
42. Royal Crescent Surgery – 92 per cent (-4)
43. Poundbury Doctors Surgery – 92 per cent (-4)
44. Moordown Medical Centre – 91 per cent (-4)
45. Carlisle House Surgery – 91 per cent (-2)
46. Eagle House Surgery – 91 per cent (-3)
47. Malthouse Meadows Surgery – 90 per cent (-9)
48. Whitecliff Group Practice – 90 per cent (+2)
49. The Rosemary Health Centre – 90 per cent (+9)
50. Poole Road Medical Centre – 90 per cent (+9)
51. Village Surgery – 89 per cent (+2)
52. The Birchwood Practice – 89 per cent (-1)
53. The Hadleigh Practice – 89 per cent (+2)
54. The Apples Medical Centre – 89 per cent (-6)
55. James Fisher Medical Centre – 88 per cent (-1)
56. Swanage Medical Practice – 87 per cent (+6)
57. Woodlea House Surgery – 87 per cent (-4)
58. The Bridges Medical Centre – 87 per cent (-8)
59. Abbotsbury Road Surgery – 87 per cent (+5)
60. Atrium Health Centre – 86 per cent (+8)
61. Leybourne Surgery – 86 per cent (-9)
62. Farmhouse Surgery – 86 per cent (-7)
63. Bridport Medical Centre 86 per cent (-4)
64. Kinson Road Medical Centre – 85 per cent (-9)
65. Walford Mill Medical Centre – 85 per cent (+3)
66. Lyme Regis Medical Centre – 85 per cent (-5)
67. Canford Heath Group Practice – 84 per cent (-7)
68. Westbourne Medical Centre – 83 per cent (-7)
69. Blackmore Vale Partnership – 82 per cent (+5)
70. Providence Surgery – 82 per cent (-3)
71. Heatherview Medical Centre – 80 per cent (-13)
72. Grove Surgery – 80 per cent (-8)
73. The Wellbridge Practice – 80 per cent (+3)
74. Lilliput Surgery – 79 per cent (-1)
75. Royal Manor Health Care – 77 per cent (-15)
76. The Panton Practice – 77 per cent (-2)
77. West Moors Group Practice – 77 per cent (+7)
78. Talbot Medical Centre – 76 per cent (-3)
79. Banks & Bearwood Medical – 76 per cent (-11)
80. Barton House Medical Practice – 75 per cent (-10)
81. Christchurch Medical Practice – 74 per cent (-6)
82. Marine & Oakridge Partnership – 71 per cent (+4)
83. Longfleet House Surgery – 68 per cent (+5)
84. Shelley Manor Holdenhurst Medical Centre – 67 per cent (-17)
85. Alma Partnership – 58 per cent (-25)

Stalbridge Surgery and Boscombe Manor Medical Centre – Insufficient surveys completed