The Freshford Practice, Braintree: patient reviews and CQC rating
The Freshford Practice is a GP practice in Braintree with 8,407 registered patients (September 2026). In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 91% of its patients described their overall experience as good, above the England figure of 77% (Essex: 74%). The Care Quality Commission rates it Outstanding overall, in a report published in September 2016. It has 4.9 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, or 1,704 patients per GP.
Latest data: September 2026. Patient survey 2026; registered patients September 2026; appointments to August 2026.
What patients say about The Freshford Practice
Its best result against England is the share who found it easy to get through to the practice by phone: 95%, above the England figure of 57%. Its result closest to England is the share who had confidence and trust in the healthcare professional they saw: 95%, against 93% across England. Of the 11 results in the table, 9 are above England and 0 below by more than the survey's margin of error, and 2 within it.
On overall experience it is 1st of the 5 practices in Braintree with 50 or more responses. 95% found it easy to get through by phone (England: 57%). The overall experience result is 6 points lower than in 2025 (97%). 113 patients answered the survey (response rate 42%).
| Survey question | The Freshford Practice | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall experience good | 91% | 74% | 77% |
| Easy to contact by phone | 95% | 50% | 57% |
| Easy to contact via the website | 90% | 56% | 58% |
| Easy to contact via the NHS App | 84% | 51% | 54% |
| Reception team helpful | 95% | 83% | 85% |
| Last contact good | 95% | 70% | 73% |
| Wait for appointment about right | 98% | 70% | 69% |
| Listened to well | 95% | 84% | 87% |
| Treated with care and concern | 95% | 83% | 86% |
| Confidence and trust in the clinician | 95% | 91% | 93% |
| Needs met | 95% | 89% | 90% |
In the Friends and Family Test for July 2026, 99% of 542 responses rated the practice good or very good (England: 92%).
CQC's overall rating for The Freshford Practice is Outstanding, published in September 2016. 3 key questions are rated differently: Safe Good, Caring Good and Responsive Good.
| Key question | Rating |
|---|---|
| Safe | Good |
| Well-led | Outstanding |
| Caring | Good |
| Responsive | Good |
| Effective | Outstanding |
8,407 patients were registered at The Freshford Practice in September 2026, up 2.4% on a year earlier (England: down 1.1%).
27% of its patients are aged 65 or over, against 19% across England. With 4.9 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs, there are 1,704 patients per GP, fewer than the England figure of 2,171 and Essex's 2,514. The practice also has 2.9 nurses and 9.4 other clinical staff such as pharmacists and physiotherapists (full-time equivalent).
| Year | Qualified GPs (FTE) | All GPs incl. trainees (FTE) |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | 4.9 | 6.0 |
| August 2024 | 4.9 | 6.0 |
| August 2025 | 4.9 | 4.9 |
| August 2026 | 4.9 | 6.0 |
From June 2026 to August 2026 the practice recorded 4,427 appointments a month, or 527 per 1,000 registered patients (England: 510). 92% were face to face (England: 63%). 28% took place on the day they were booked and 9% more than 28 days after booking (England: 45% and 5%).
46% were with a GP rather than another member of the practice team. 3% of booked patients did not attend.
| Measure | The Freshford Practice | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 527 | 480 | 510 |
| Face to face | 92% | 69% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 28% | 45% | 45% |
| More than 28 days after booking | 9% | 5% | 5% |
| Did not attend | 3% | 3% | 4% |
Compared with England, the practice has a higher share of patients on its registers for cancer (5.9% against 3.8%), atrial fibrillation (3.4% against 2.2%) and high blood pressure (18.9% against 15.2%). It has a lower share for dementia (0.4% against 0.8%), serious mental illness (0.6% against 1.0%) and depression (10.7% against 14.3%). The practice's patients live in areas with an average deprivation score of 16.3 (England: 21.8; higher is more deprived).
Life expectancy for its patients' neighbourhoods is 85.5 years for women and 82.0 for men (England: 83.0 and 79.1).
| Condition register | Age group | Practice (2024/25) | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 18.9% | 15.2% |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 10.7% | 14.3% |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 7.6% | 7.9% |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.5% | 6.6% |
| Cancer | All ages | 5.9% | 3.8% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.5% | 4.6% |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 3.5% | 3.0% |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 3.4% | 2.2% |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| COPD | All ages | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.3% | 1.2% |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 0.6% | 1.0% |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Screening coverage | Period | Practice | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel cancer screening (aged 60 to 74) | 2024/25 | 79.3% | 72.9% |
| Breast cancer screening (women aged 53 to 70) | 2024/25 | 72.2% | 72.2% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 25 to 49) | 2023/24 | 80.1% | 67.5% |
| Cervical screening (women aged 50 to 64) | 2023/24 | 84.3% | 74.9% |
The Freshford Practice, The Freshwell Health Centre, Wethersfield Road, Finchingfield, Braintree, CM7 4BQ. Phone: 01371 810328. Website: www.freshwell.co.uk.
| Nearby practice | Distance | Overall experience good |
|---|---|---|
| Thaxted Surgery | 7.7 km | 97% |
| Hedingham Medical Centre | 10.2 km | 83% |
| Church Lane Surgery | 11.1 km | 58% |
| Blandford Medical Centre | 11.6 km | 69% |
| Mount Chambers Medical Practice | 12.0 km | 64% |
- Hedingham Medical Centre (83% overall experience good)
- Kelvedon & Feering Health Centre (77% overall experience good)
- The Coggeshall Surgery (94% overall experience good)
- The Elizabeth Courtauld Partnership (79% overall experience good)
- The Pump House Surgery (75% overall experience good)
How do patients rate The Freshford Practice?
In the 2026 GP Patient Survey, 91% of patients described their overall experience of The Freshford Practice as good, above the England figure of 77%. 95% found it easy to get through by phone.
How many patients are registered at The Freshford Practice?
8,407 patients were registered in September 2026, up 2.4% on a year earlier.
What is The Freshford Practice's CQC rating?
Outstanding overall, published in September 2016.
How many GPs does The Freshford Practice have?
4.9 full-time-equivalent qualified GPs (6 qualified GPs by headcount), which is 1,704 patients per GP against 2,171 across England.
Are appointments at The Freshford Practice face to face?
92% of appointments from June 2026 to August 2026 were face to face, against 63% across England.
What is The Freshford Practice's phone number?
01371 810328.