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.” The surgeries with the most 'very poor' ratings 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.
