Darlington's easiest and hardest GPs to book an appointment

Plans announced by the new health secretary Therese Coffey last week (September 22) set out an expectation that anyone who needs an appointment should get one at a GP practice within 2 weeks – and patients with the most urgent needs should be seen the same day.

It comes as many people have complained about the ‘impossible’ task of booking in with a GP.

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Nationally just 53 percent of us who wanted a same day appointment said they managed to get one, down from 60 percent in 2021, according to the 2022 GP Patient Survey.

And in Darlington the figures reveal that, on average, only two thirds of patients in the town said they had a good experience making an appointment, with the figures even worse at some surgeries.

Carmel Practice ranks the worst in Darlington for patients who had a good experience booking an appointment. Picture: GOOGLE

We’ve looked at the data to reveal the best and worst surgeries to book an appointment, ranked based on respondents who said they had a ‘good’ experience of making an appointment.

Darlington GPs ranked on ease of making an appointment

1. Carmel Medical Practice – 39 percent
2. Denmark Street Surgery – 49percent
3. Whinfield Medical Practice – 53percent
4. Parkgate Surgery – 54percent
5. Moorlands Surgery – 58percent
6. Clifton Court Medical Practice – 63percent
7. Neasham Road Surgery – 65percent
8. Blacketts Medical Practice – 84percent
9. St George’s Medical Practice – 87percent
10. Orchard Court Surgery – 89percent
11. Rockliffe Court Surgery – 91percent

A spokesperson for the Darlington Primary Care Network’s Board of Executives told The Northern Echo: “Our main priority is the health and well-being of our patients and the practices supporting them, and all feedback, negative or positive, will be used to form future strategic plans.

“The figures demonstrate the high demand for appointments, which we are aware of and are working positively to alleviate with the launch of enhanced access, which will see more appointments being available outside the core network hours.

“In the spring of this year, we asked patients to let us know how they wanted enhanced access to look; we received over 20,000 responses.

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“This feedback was collated and built into the plans, alongside workforce, logistics, and population health data considerations.

“Enhanced access launches on October 1 and will enable patients to access evening and weekend appointments.

“Finally, we appreciate all feedback and would like to highlight our appreciation for the 11 practices within the Darlington Primary Care Network for their hard work and dedication.”

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