Best and worst Dorset GP practices revealed in survey

More than 8,100 people took part in the survey this year, which provides vital feedback on the quality of care and service of general practices.  

The county remained above the national average of 74 per cent, with 80 per cent of respondents describing their experiences of their GP as ‘good’ or ‘very good’. 

This was the same as 2023’s survey results. 

Meanwhile, 67 per cent felt the wait time for appointments was about right – broadly in line with the national average – and 95 per cent felt listened to at their last appointment. 

Corfe Castle Surgery, Cerne Abbas Surgery and Puddletown Surgery all took the spot for the top three practices rating 'good' or 'very good' in overall experience. 

Dr Forbes Watson, chair of the Dorset General Practice Alliance, said: “It’s great to see Dorset doing well nationally during some very challenging times. 

“This is thanks to hard working practice staff doing their very best for their patients. There are areas that require improvement which everyone is working hard to achieve.”    

But the surgeries rating the lowest with 'very poor' scored on overall experience were Wyke Regis & Lanehouse Medical Practice, Denmark Road Medical Centre in Bournemouth and The Blandford Group Practice.  

It hasn’t been an easy time for GP practices both nationally and here in Dorset: in fact, a recent survey by NHS England and Office for National Statistics found patients here have the worst contact with GP practices in England. 

And according to the patient survey, Woodlea House Surgery in Bournemouth, The Adam Practice in Poole and Royal Manor Health Care on Portland scored 'very poorly' for patients waiting for an appointment. 

In Dorset 8,118 questionnaires were returned completed, this represents a response rate of 40 per cent - higher than the national average of around 27 per cent. 

Top 10 GPs in Dorset rated ‘good’ or ‘very good’ in overall experience: 

CORFE CASTLE SURGERY 99 per cent  

CERNE ABBAS SURGERY  99 per cent

PUDDLETOWN SURGERY 98 per cent  

STOUR SURGERY 98 per cent

ROYAL CRESCENT SURGERY 97 per cent

THE CRANBORNE PRACTICE 96 per cent

MILTON ABBAS SURGERY 96 per cent  

QUEENS AVENUE SURGERY 96 per cent  

YETMINSTER MEDICAL CENTRE 95 per cent

POUNDBURY DOCTORS SURGERY 95 per cent

Lowest scoring GPs with ‘very poor’ scored on overall experience: This is the percentage of people who scored 'very poor' in their response. 

WYKE REGIS & LANEHOUSE MEDICAL PRACTICE 19 per cent 

DENMARK ROAD MEDICAL CENTRE 12 per cent

THE BLANDFORD GROUP PRACTICE 11 per cent 

VILLAGE SURGERY 10 per cent

WOODLEA HOUSE SURGERY 9 per cent 

THE ADAM PRACTICE 8 per cent

SHORE MEDICAL 8 per cent 

THE MARINE & OAKRIDGE PARTNERSHIP 8 per cent 

ROYAL MANOR HEALTH CARE 8 per cent

SANDFORD SURGERY 7 per cent

Denmark Road Medical Centre in Winton

Full list of GP scores in Dorset with rating 'good' or 'very good' in overall experience: 

CORFE CASTLE SURGERY 99 per cent 

CERNE ABBAS SURGERY  99 per cent

PUDDLETOWN SURGERY 98 per cent 

STOUR SURGERY 98 per cent

ROYAL CRESCENT SURGERY 97 per cent

THE CRANBORNE PRACTICE 96 per cent 

MILTON ABBAS SURGERY 96 per cent 

QUEENS AVENUE SURGERY 96 per cent 

YETMINSTER MEDICAL CENTRE 95 per cent 

POUNDBURY DOCTORS SURGERY 95 per cent 

FORDINGTON SURGERY 93 per cent

ST ALBANS MEDICAL CENTRE 93 per cent 

THE NEWMAN PRACTICE (DR NEWMANS SURGERY) 93 per cent 

BERE REGIS SURGERY 92 per cent

THE BRIDGES MEDICAL CTR. 92 per cent 

PENNY'S HILL PRACTICE 92 per cent

PRINCE OF WALES SURGERY 92 per cent 

THE ROSEMARY HEALTH CTR 91 per cent 

THE BARCELLOS FAMILY PRACTICE 89 per cent

THE HADLEIGH PRACTICE 89 per cent 

BEAUFORT ROAD SURGERY 89 per cent 

THE BANKS & BEARWOOD MEDICAL CENTRE 89 per cent 

SWANAGE MEDICAL PRACTICE 89 per cent

THE APPLES MEDICAL CENTRE 88 per cent 

THE VERWOOD SURGERY 88 per cent         

WAREHAM SURGERY 88 per cent 

ORCHID HOUSE SURGERY 88 per cent 

THE GROVE MEDICAL CENTRE 88 per cent 

THE DORCHESTER RD SURGERY 88 per cent 

THE HARVEY PRACTICE 88 per cent 

EVERGREEN OAK SURGERY 87 per cent 

GILLINGHAM MEDICAL PRACTICE 87 per cent 

THE PANTON PRACTICE 85 per cent

POOLE TOWN SURGERY 85 per cent

CANFORD HEATH GROUP PRACT 84 per cent 

THE BIRCHWOOD PRACTICE 84 per cent 

MOORDOWN MEDICAL CENTRE 84 per cent 

LITTLEDOWN SURGERY 83 per cent 

BLACKMORE VALE PARTNERSHIP 83 per cent 

WEST MOORS VILLAGE SURGERY 82 per cent 

HIGHCLIFFE MEDICAL CENTRE 82 per cent 

THE QUARTER JACK SURGERY 82 per cent 

JAMES FISHER MEDICAL CENTRE 81 per cent

LYME BAY MEDICAL PRACTICE 81 per cent 

CROSS ROAD SURGERY 80 per cent 

GROVE SURGERY 80 per cent 

WESTBOURNE MEDICAL CENTRE 80 per cent 

THE MARINE & OAKRIDGE PARTNERSHIP 78 per cent 

CHRISTCHURCH MEDICAL PRACTICE 78 per cent

SANDFORD SURGERY 78 per cent 

CRESCENT PROVIDENCE SURGERY 77 per cent 

SHELLEY MANOR HOLDENHURST MEDICAL CENTRE 76 per cent 

SOUTHBOURNE PRACTICE 75 per cent 

KINSON ROAD MEDICAL CENTRE 75 per cent

SHORE MEDICAL 75 per cent

WALFORD MILL MEDICAL CENTRE 74 per cent 

THE OLD DISPENSARY 72 per cent

ATRIUM HEALTH CENTRE 71 per cent 

BARTON HOUSE MED PRACTICE 70 per cent 

THE WELLBRIDGE PRACTICE 69 per cent

THE BLANDFORD GROUP PRACTICE 68 per cent

VILLAGE SURGERY 66 per cent 

TALBOT MEDICAL CENTRE 66 per cent 

AMMONITE HEALTH PARTNERSHIP 65 per cent

FARMHOUSE SURGERY 65 per cent 

ROYAL MANOR HEALTH CARE 62 per cent 

THE ADAM PRACTICE 60 per cent 

DENMARK ROAD MEDICAL CENTRE 56 per cent 

WOODLEA HOUSE SURGERY 54 per cent 

WYKE REGIS & LANEHOUSE MEDICAL PRACTICE 50 per cent