REVEALED: The best and worst surgeries in Blackburn with Darwen according to NHS Patient survey

The annual GP Patient Survey asked residents for their opinions on practices, measuring their experiences on a range of topics including the ease of making appointments, waiting times, the quality of care give, practice opening times and out-of-hours services.

Results for the NHS Blackburn with Darwen CCG were published on Friday, July 7, with more than 2,824 patients completing the survey.

St George's Surgery in Blackburn and Dr TL Phillips' Practice at Barbara Castle Way both received the highest patient satisfaction rating with 98 per cent believing the practice to be good or better.

Dr Z Bux's Practice in Whalley Range was the lowest ranked one with 58 per cent.

A further seven surgeries Dr A Alam's Practice in Darwen (59 per cent), Shifa Surgery on Blackburn Street (67 per cent), Dr N Nagpal's Practice in Audley (69 per cent), Darwen Health Centre (72 per cent), The Waterside Surgery on Infirmary Street (75 per cent), Stepping Stone Practice in Audley (79 per cent) and Family Practice on Barbara Castle Way  (80 per cent) had satisfaction ratings below the national average of 85 per cent.

Surgeries in Blackburn with Darwen scored an average satisfaction rating of 86 per cent.

Meanwhile, 84 per cent of people said they were successful in getting an appointment the last time they tried to see a GP or nurse.

Dr Z Bux’s Practice came bottom of the pile in this regard with 51 per cent of patients managing to get an appointment.

Just under one in three people (31 per cent) felt their waited too long to be seen at their GP practices.

Dr A Alam’s Practice had the longest waiting times according to patients, with 29 per cent saying their appointment was delayed for too long.

The survey also looked into how easy it was to get through on the phones at practices, with Shifa Surgery propping up the table with 29 per cent satisfaction rating against the Blackburn with Darwen average 71 per cent.

One of the key topics also was that 95 per cent of patients said their trusted their GP and 98 per cent had faith in their practice nurses.

The survey found the out-of-hours services, run by East Lancashire Medical Services, was below the national average in areas including the speed of care provided, confidence and trust in out-of-hours staff and the overall experience of the out-of-hours service.

This included only 56 per cent of patients who said the speed of care provided by the out-of-hours service in East Lancashire CCG was ‘about right’, compared to 61 per cent nationally.

A spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen CCGs said feedback showed that patients were ‘satisfied’ with the out-of-hours service.

They said: “We have no records of concerns from patients but we will continue to work positively with our Out of Hours provider to identify any areas where we can provide support to improve patients’ experience.”

The overall patient satisfaction ratings for Blackburn with Darwen's GP practices were: 

1) (Joint) Dr TL Phillips Practice - 98

=) St Georges Practice - 98

3) Roman Road Health Centre - 95

4) Bentham Road Health Centre - 93

=) Darwen Healthlink - 93

=) Darwen Healthcare - 93

=) Spring-Feniscowles Healthlink - 93

8) Witton Medical Centre - 92

9) The Montague Practice - 90

10) Dr Jadadesham's Practice - 89

=) Dr I Timson Practice - 89

=) Little Harwood Health Centre - 89

13) Dr DC Marthur and Partner - 87

=) Dr IJ Moodie's Practice - 87

15) Dr RC Rautray Practice - 86 

=) Pringle Street Surgery - 86

=) Dr A Calow Practice - 86

18) Limefield Surgery - 85

19) Family Practice - 80

20) Stepping Stone Practice - 79

21) The Waterside Surgery - 75

22) Darwen Health Centre - 72

23) Dr N Nagpal Practice - 69

24) Shifa Surgery - 67

25) Dr Alam's Practice - 59

26) Dr Z Bux's Practice - 58