Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners, Boldon Colliery: patient reviews and CQC rating
Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners is a GP practice in Boldon Colliery with 5,844 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 75% of its patients described their overall experience as good, against 77% across England (North East and North Cumbria: 80%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Good overall, in a report published in January 2019. It has 2.9 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,990 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 71%, above the England figure of 57%. Its weakest is the share who said the wait for their last appointment was about right: 60%, against 69% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 1 is above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 10 within it.
71% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 11 points lower than in 2025 (86%). 101 patients answered the survey (response rate 29%).
| Survey question | Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners | North East and North Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 75% | 80% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 71% | 62% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 62% | 59% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 59% | 58% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 83% | 88% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 79% | 76% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 60% | 72% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 85% | 89% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 82% | 88% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 91% | 93% | 93% |
| Needs met | 86% | 91% | 90% |
CQC's overall rating for Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners is Good, published in January 2019. All 5 key questions are rated Good. It held the same rating in the report before (July 2015).
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Good |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Good |
5,844 patients were registered at Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners in September 2026, down 2.1% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
26% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 2.9 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,990 patients per GP, close to the England figure of 2,171 and North East and North Cumbria's 2,088. The practice also has 1.3 nurses and 0.7 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 2.3 | 4.0 |
| August 2024 | 2.7 | 4.6 |
| August 2025 | 3.4 | 5.5 |
| August 2026 | 2.9 | 6.1 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 2,371 appointments a month, or 406 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 76% were face to face (England: 63%). 26% took place on the day they were booked and 2% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
42% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 5% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners | North East and North Cumbria | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 406 | 550 | 510 |
| Face to face | 76% | 68% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 26% | 42% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 2% | 6% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 5% | 4% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for peripheral arterial disease (0.9% against 0.6%), atrial fibrillation (3.2% against 2.2%) and cancer (5.3% against 3.8%). It has a lower share for osteoporosis (0.6% against 1.2%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 20.3 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 83.6 years for women and 79.2 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 17.4% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 14.0% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 7.9% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 6.5% | 6.6% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 5.4% | 4.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.3% | 3.8% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.3% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 3.2% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.4% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 2.4% | 1.9% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.7% | 1.0% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 0.6% | 1.2% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 78.0% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 80.1% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 78.3% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 77.8% | 74.9% |
Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners, The Medical Centre, Gibson Court, Boldon Colliery, NE35 9AN. Phone: 0191 519 3000. Website: www.boldongp.nhs.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Colliery Court Medical Group | 0.0 km | 91% |
| Wenlock Road Surgery | 2.6 km | 74% |
| Talbot Medical Centre | 2.8 km | 85% |
| Farnham Medical Centre | 3.2 km | 78% |
| Redhouse Medical Centre | 3.6 km | 58% |
- Central Surgery (72% overall experience good)
- Colliery Court Medical Group (91% overall experience good)
- Imeary Medical Group (89% overall experience good)
- Marsden Road Health Centre (90% overall experience good)
- Whitburn Surgery (57% overall experience good)
How do patients rate Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 75% of patients described their overall experience of Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners as good, against 77% across England. 71% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners?
5,844 patients were registered in September 2026, down 2.1% on a year earlier.
What is Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners's CQC rating?
Good overall, published in January 2019.
How many GPs does Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners have?
2.9 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (6 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,990 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners face to face?
76% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is Dr Thorniley-Walker and Partners's phone number?
0191 519 3000.