BEST and WORST GP surgeries in Swindon - as rated by patients

Elm Tree surgery rated best for ‘overall experience’ of patients in the 2019 NHS patient survey.

The survey asked residents for their views on their doctors' surgeries across a range of different areas.

The number of surveys completed varies from surgery to surgery, and does not represent every patient who is reigstered at any one centre. 

READ MORE: Swindon surgeries among WORST in England

READ MORE: Patients vent fury at IMH shambles

Of the patients who responded, 98 per cent who responded said their overall experience was good or very good.

In second place is Kingswood Surgery on Whitbourne Avenue, which scored a satisfaction rating of 92 per cent.

And Westrop Surgery in Highworth clocked up a 91 per cent patient ‘good’ score, ranking it in third place for GP surgeries looked after by Swindon CCG.

What about the worst?

At the other end of the scale, Eldene Surgery finished bottom of the pile.

Only 50 per cent of patients said their overall experience of the surgery was good or very good.

And hovering just above was Taw Hill Medical Practice, where 56 per cent of patients were happy.

How do our surgeries compare?

In fact, the majority of the surgeries in the Swindon area scored below the national average satisfaction score of 83 per cent in terms of 'overall experience'.

Of 23 medical centres, 16 scored worse than the England average, with only six making the grade.

To see the full list, see below

Have things got worse?

Swindon has been dogged by problems from a botched contract to outsource some surgeries’ phone systems and back office functions to a Manchester-based company. 

Perhaps as a result, the surgeries affected did not fare well in terms of patients’ overall experience of their GP.

Bottom-placed Eldene and Taw Hill, which performed almost as badly, were both involved in the fiasco.

Likewise Moredon Medical Centre and Abbey Meads finished 21st and 23rd respectively.

What does the CCG have to say?

CCG spokesman Ruth Atkins said: “The CCG is always very interested to see the results of the national GP Patient Survey run by IPSOS MORI on behalf of NHS England, which takes place each year.

"This survey takes into account the experiences patients have from their surgeries and questions range from the ease with which patients can contact their surgery for an appointment through to whether patients felt their needs were met at their last appointment.

"The results tell us that we are in line with the national average in providing support from our local services to manage health conditions and this result has remained the same as last year (both years results were 77%).

"We are aware that the results also show that people are experiencing difficulties in accessing GP appointments. We absolutely recognise that this is an issue particularly within the IMH practices and this reflects what we already know through the complaints and concerns which have been raised by patients locally and which we are prioritising in our work with practices.

"As we move forward with the future arrangements of these practices, we will continue to focus on how we improve patient experience in accessing GP services.

“Interestingly, the results also show what other services people tried if they couldn’t get a GP appointment.

"We can see that we are above average for people attending another NHS Service or another GP practice and also  that we have less people attending A&E compared with the national results.”

The full list -

ELM TREE SURGERY 98%

KINGSWOOD SURGERY 92%

WESTROP SURGERY 91%

PRIORY ROAD MEDICAL CENTRE 89%

THE LAWN MEDICAL CENTRE 89%

OLD TOWN SURGERY 85%

NORTH SWINDON PRACTICE 85%

SPARCELLS SURGERY 81%

WHALEBRIDGE PRACTICE 79%

HAWTHORN MEDICAL CENTRE 75%

RIDGE GREEN MEDICAL PRACTICE 73%

RIDGEWAY VIEW FAMILY PRACTICE 72%

CARFAX MEDICAL CENTRE 72%

ASHINGTON HOUSE SURGERY 69%

PHOENIX SURGERY 69%

MERCHISTON SURGERY 68%

VICTORIA CROSS SURGERY 68%

ABBEY MEADS MEDICAL PRACT 63%

GREAT WESTERN SURGERY 62%

MOREDON MEDICAL CENTRE 60%

PARK LANE PRACTICE 58%

TAW HILL MEDICAL PRACTICE 56%

ELDENE SURGERY 50%