GP practices in the Bedford council area: access and ratings
There are 13 GP practices in the Bedford council area, with 203,461 registered patients between them (September 2026). 207,176 people living in Bedford were registered with a GP in July 2026, 94% of them at a practice inside the council area. Practices in Bedford have 2,471 patients per qualified GP, against 2,171 across England.
Latest data: September 2026. Registered patients September 2026; GP Patient Survey 2026.
Across the 13 practices in Bedford with survey results, the share of patients describing their overall experience as good ranges from 64% at Queens Park Health Centre to 87% at Linden Road Surgery, with a median of 76% (England: 77%). 2 are above England and 2 below by more than the survey's margin of error. Harrold Medical Practice has the highest share finding it easy to get through by phone (87%, England 57%).
| Practice | Residents registered (July 2026) | Registered patients (September 2026) | Overall experience good | Easy to contact by phone | CQC rating | Patients per GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linden Road Surgery | 6,118 | 6,189 | 87% | 71% | Requires improvement | 1,433 |
| Harrold Medical Practice | 4,731 | 6,661 | 84% | 87% | Good | 3,353 |
| Sharnbrook Surgery | 5,892 | 5,935 | 83% | 68% | Good | 1,439 |
| The Vale Medical Practice - Wootton | 15,861 | 19,188 | 82% | 65% | Good | 4,004 |
| Priory Medical Practice | 7,547 | 7,637 | 82% | 68% | Good | 3,870 |
| Ashburnham Road Surgery | 4,093 | 4,121 | 82% | 80% | Good | 2,493 |
| Putnoe Medical Centre | 17,971 | 17,986 | 76% | 69% | Good | 1,713 |
| London Road Surgery | 22,569 | 22,868 | 76% | 46% | Good | 3,330 |
| King Street Surgery | 19,888 | 20,934 | 75% | 38% | Good | 2,150 |
| Great Barford Surgery | 4,012 | 5,056 | 75% | 63% | Good | 2,107 |
| Goldington Avenue Surgery | 17,641 | 18,074 | 71% | 45% | Good | 2,023 |
| De Parys Medical Centre | 46,048 | 46,198 | 68% | 37% | Good | 2,381 |
| Queens Park Health Centre | 22,290 | 22,614 | 64% | 52% | Good | 4,000 |
There are 2,471 registered patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP in Bedford, more than England's 2,171 and Central East's 2,348. Practices recorded 752 appointments a month per 1,000 patients (England: 510), 41% of them face to face. 57% of appointments took place on the day they were booked (England: 45%). 17% of registered patients are aged 65 or over (England: 19%).
| Measure | Bedford | Central East | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients per qualified GP | 2,471 | 2,348 | 2,171 |
| Appointments per 1,000 patients a month | 752 | 521 | 510 |
| Face-to-face appointments | 41% | 62% | 63% |
| Same day as booked | 57% | 48% | 45% |
| Did not attend | 2% | 4% | 4% |
| Patients aged 65 or over | 17% | 17% | 19% |
94% of Bedford's registered residents are with a practice in the council area. The practices outside it with the most Bedford residents are Lea Vale Medical Practice (2,817), Greensand Surgery - Ampthill (2,442) and Kimbolton Medical Centre (2,014).
| Practice outside the council area | Residents of Bedford registered | Town |
|---|---|---|
| Lea Vale Medical Practice | 2,817 | Luton |
| Greensand Surgery - Ampthill | 2,442 | Bedford |
| Kimbolton Medical Centre | 2,014 | Huntingdon |
| Great Staughton Surgery | 1,019 | St. Neots |
| Dr Barber and Partners | 899 | Rushden |
| Lakeside Healthcare St Neots | 516 | St. Neots |
| Houghton Close Surgery | 486 | Bedford |
| Sandy Health Centre Medical Practice | 204 | Sandy |
| Marston Forest Healthcare | 156 | Bedford |
| Almond Road Surgery - Dr's Wrigley and Chomicka | 120 | St Neots |
Relative to England, the register furthest above England's rate at practices in Bedford is serious mental illness (1.2% against 1.0%), and the furthest below is copd (1.4% against 1.9%).
| Condition register | Age group | Bedford (2024/25) | England | Patients on register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | All ages | 15.5% | 15.2% | 29,999 |
| Depression | 18+ yrs | 14.2% | 14.3% | 21,613 |
| Diabetes | 17+ yrs | 9.2% | 7.9% | 14,222 |
| Asthma | 6+ yrs | 7.3% | 6.6% | 13,189 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 18+ yrs | 4.3% | 4.6% | 6,565 |
| Cancer | All ages | 3.7% | 3.8% | 7,235 |
| Coronary heart disease | All ages | 2.8% | 3.0% | 5,511 |
| Atrial fibrillation | All ages | 2.1% | 2.2% | 4,016 |
| Stroke and TIA | All ages | 1.7% | 1.9% | 3,338 |
| COPD | All ages | 1.4% | 1.9% | 2,757 |
| Serious mental illness | All ages | 1.2% | 1.0% | 2,343 |
| Osteoporosis | 50+ yrs | 1.2% | 1.2% | 816 |
| Heart failure | All ages | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2,066 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 16+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1,302 |
| Dementia | All ages | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1,560 |
| Epilepsy | 18+ yrs | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1,167 |
| Learning disability | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1,197 |
| Palliative care | All ages | 0.6% | 0.6% | 1,115 |
| Peripheral arterial disease | All ages | 0.4% | 0.6% | 869 |
- Broxbourne (2,158 patients per GP)
- Cambridge (2,192 patients per GP)
- Central Bedfordshire (2,504 patients per GP)
- Dacorum (2,572 patients per GP)
- East Cambridgeshire (1,891 patients per GP)
- East Hertfordshire (2,531 patients per GP)
- Fenland (2,879 patients per GP)
- Hertsmere (2,121 patients per GP)
- Huntingdonshire (2,069 patients per GP)
- Luton (2,749 patients per GP)
- Milton Keynes (2,545 patients per GP)
- North Hertfordshire (2,110 patients per GP)
- North Northamptonshire (2,369 patients per GP)
- Peterborough (2,472 patients per GP)
- South Cambridgeshire (1,807 patients per GP)
- St Albans (2,076 patients per GP)
- Stevenage (3,000 patients per GP)
- Three Rivers (2,463 patients per GP)
- Watford (2,485 patients per GP)
- Welwyn Hatfield (2,199 patients per GP)
How many GP practices are there in Bedford?
13 practices are located in the Bedford council area, with 203,461 registered patients in September 2026.
Where are Bedford residents registered with a GP?
94% of the 207,176 registered residents are with a practice inside the council area; the practice outside it with the most is Lea Vale Medical Practice (2,817).
How many patients are there per GP in Bedford?
2,471 patients per full-time-equivalent qualified GP at practices in Bedford, against 2,171 across England.
Can you get a same-day GP appointment in Bedford?
57% of appointments at practices in Bedford took place on the day they were booked, against 45% across England.