STAFF have been praised after their surgery was named as the best medical centre in the Swindon area by patients. 

Cricklade Surgery rated highest for ‘overall experience’ in the annual GP Patient Survey, scoring an overall approval rating of 97 per cent. 

Operations manager Catherine Taylor was overly pleased by the result as the GP surgery cares for approximately 3,000 patients. 

She said getting these feedback from their patients “improve staff morale, particularly during the last year.”

She added: “The staff worked really hard to get this feedback. It is really nice for the staff to feel valued because they do work very hard.

“We always ensure that there is enough staffing and reception at the busy times when people are calling. And we normally would get back to patients on the same day.”

Dr Lanil de Silva, who has been working at the practice surgery on High Street for the past 26 years, said having a stable team of practice staff makes the difference. 

He said: “They’re here for quite a long time, they don’t just come and go after a few months, so they get to know the patient. 

“In my case, I’ve got mothers who were themselves newborn babies in the earlier years when I was here. 

“Overall, I would say that we have excellent practice staff. Our manager Catherine is very good at running things. And we have a good, dedicated receptionist and nursing team.”

Of the patients who responded, 95 per cent said they found it easy to get through to someone on phone and 93 per cent said they found the receptionists at the GP to be ‘helpful’.

For the majority (82 per cent), they said it was easy for them the use the GP’s website and look for information or access services.